Absolutely fantastic. Ian and the boys back to their best!! I nearly missed this one, been on holiday for a while and hadn't checked the web site. Luckily I was in Nottingham seeing Fish (ex- Marillion) and the promoter told me Ian was playing just down the road. Fish had been hoping to catch Ian's set but was unluckily on stage at the same time!!
The place (the smallest music venue in the world!!) was packed giving a great atmosphere and Ian looked much more relaxed than on the previous tour. I've slagged off the band before, but tonight they were really tight and sounding great. Unfortunately I missed the beginning of the set but I think Ian opened with OBTS and then played most of the Artful Dodger album as on the previous tour. No Memphis or Irene Wilde (first time I've NOT heard this in nearly twenty years!) but a new song My Salvation and Waterlow from Wildlife. More old favourites Bastard, Cleveland Rocks and Just Another Night, finishing with Roll Away The Stone. Encore, Ian said the band had just flown in and was sorry to hear of the death of Princess Di and talked about the loss of Ronno, Michael Picasso followed. Ian closed the show with ATYD and Saturday Gigs.
After the gig I was lucky to bump into Darryl, Cuddleford P and Ian G on the streets of Nottingham in the early hours of the morning, my chips were soon devoured!
Any way a superb warm-up gig for the autumn tour and I hope I'll get to more of the shows
(David Bughardt)