<BACK (2) (3) (4) (5) Fan Reviews [ Sincerely Sheffield - Charity Concert 2004 ]

FRI 12th Mar 2004: City Hall & Memorial (Oval Hall), Sheffield, ENGLAND. [2 Pics (acoustic)/1 Pic (electric) by DLUK.com: Gallery] [SETLIST] John Reilly/Acoustic Angels. [+ Roy De Wired] :: Free Falling (Tom Petty), Keep On Running. [Lindsay Dracass] :: Somewhere Over The Rainbow, I Can't Make You Love Me, Overjoyed. [Joe & Sav] :: (both on acoustic lead guitars) Two Steps Behind, From The Inside, Winter Song (Lindisfarne), When Love & Hate Collide. [John Reilly etc] :: Arrow. [10 min Interval] [Paul Carrack] :: How Long, The Living Years, Over My Shoulder. [John Parr] :: Naughty Naughty, St Elmo's Fire, What If. 4 African singers [Kelly Llorenna] :: This Time I Know It's For Real, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Tell It To My Heart. [John Reilly/Boy On a Dolphin] :: Loving You, Fire. [Joe/Sav] + backing band :: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (Harley), Suffragette City (Bowie), Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love) (Bad Company), [Encore 1] :: 20th Century Boy (T-Rex), Money (That's What I Want) (Beatles) [whole cast] [Encore 2] :: American Pie (McLean) [whole cast]. [Show Notes] :: Line-up: Joe Elliott, Rick Savage, Paul Carrack, John Parr, Boy On a Dolphin, etc... Show: 7:30-11:10pm. Show Review :: Written by Me Woke up to snow fall and freezing temperatures. I then travelled through the bleak mid-winter landscape that is England (Spring is NOT here...yet). Field after field of snow, sheep and the occassional power station. The snow had dissappeared before we reached the Holy City of Rock that is Sheffield, to see (members of) Def Leppard for the 3rd year running. I decided to take the City Hall route to my hotel for the night. On the way passing by many Leppard related places: (now closed) National Centre for Popular Music, Hallam Uni not to mention Casbah's (formerely the Wapentake) before turning right and seeing the City Hall large as life at the end of the street. Not many people around at this hour but I had time to kill so I walked around the venue. Took a few pics and went into the foyer to ask for some show details: (fast forward to 7pm). We got into the City Hall 5 mins or so before showtime and found we had seats just behind the mixing desk (not a bad position if you stand up). Although they could easily move it to the back wall only 10 feet away. From here we could see all the soundboard which was quite cool and the setlist. All the artists songs were written down but not Joe & Rick's (as they were listed on the setlist), just "4 songs" was written. So nothing was given away to us (2 of the Leppard faithful). Just after we had settled a recognisable figure appeared to introduce the first act. I think his name is Dave Kilner local Magic FM DJ. He is pictured here with the band before he intro'd them in 2002 at the Feel The Noise (Pop) extravaganza. First act on was the shows musical producer John Reilly + the Acoustic Angels band, he also played with them later along with Boy On a Dolphin: both bands seemed to make up the evenings backing bands. They played two songs one of which was called Malika. After this they were joined onstage by a singer called Roy De Wired and performed 3 more songs, the second of which was the first recognisable song of the evening (at least to those of us who aren't familiar with these artists); Free Falling (Free Fall on the setlist). Not a bad version of a good song. Someone else i've never heard of next (99.9% of the acts were from Sheffield by the way) Lindsay Dracass, a female singer who sang quite well but I can't say I was into her style of song. For her 3rd song a keyboard player from Vancouver came out to accompany her. As we could see the setlist we knew there was one more song to go before Joe & Rick were going to be here. [Joe & Rick] Dave Kilner then appeared to give the Lep boys a proper introduction (the first of two this evening) and I decide to make my way out of my seat to get a better view. So I witnessed this short acoustic performance standing up and taking pics. Not the best way to enjoy this kind of set but I managed to get some good shots and clap along as best I could. Sav was in his usual position left of Joe (or right for him). He also was playing a lead acoustic guitar for this short set. They both dressed in normal stage attire (for anyone who cares). The first song was the most obvious choice for them "Two Steps Behind" and Joe gave his usual intro of "if you know the words sing along" (I guess not many non-Lep fans did). they got a loud enough cheer at the end though. Something to note was Sav's vocals, obviously they were very clear tonight without the other two (Viv, Phil - yes, I know you know that), and that made things sound a bit different at least vocally. Different in a good way though and unique. Sav also played the solos on these songs which was great to see and hear. He managed them quite well. Not as flamenco sounding or as fast as Phil but still faithful enough. Next up arguably the other most obvious choice for them to play "From The Inside" Joe joked with us that they were playing a charity concert and here's a song about drug addiction. Another great version by the two of them and very faithful to the original. Time maybe for a surprise tune... I think there was some joking between them before they got started with Sav stopping Joe before they carried on with the song. A song I've never heard of by Lindisfarne (from Newcastle) "Winter Song". Joe's voice was great on this one. Last up for this way-too-short acoustic set was a nice rendition of "When Love & Hate Collide" with haunting backing vocals by Sav who again excelled on the solo. It was great to be here to see this performance, especially as it's a one-off that might never be repeated. Of course the fact that it was in Sheffield and at this venue made it all the more special. After a short gap John Reilly (& band) played one more tune called "Arrow". Then it was Interval time - a bit unusual (not a theatre goer myself). After a quick visit to the bar we were back in time for the introduction of the evenings second half... Next act was Paul Carrack who was really good. He seemed to have a lot of his fanbase in tonight and they gave him a great response. The first act to get some crowd reaction during the songs. He played 3 songs solo at the piano with taped keyboard accompaniment on one of his best known songs from Mike & The Mechanics "The Living Years" - a very cool song. Followed by another of their hits "Over My Shoulder" (complete with mass whistling). He'd played a solo song prior to these two. After this Dave Kilner came out again to introduce John Parr with his Stars 'N' Stripes guitar and he and the band went into a very loud song - well compared to what had gone before anyway. I started to wonder who one of his backing singers was at the right of the stage. It later turns out it was Morty from Racing Cars (aka Malvin Mortimer's brother: Gareth Mortimer). He must have learnt his stagecraft from Joe Cocker. They then played John Parr's most known song "St. Elmos Fire" which sounded ok. Followed up by a song he said he wrote for the Sincere Support Charity "What If" and it featured some guests. Four African singers from Zimbabwe. More singers were introduced on the other side of the stage. After this the four main singers stayed for their own performance. Not exactly songs but two peices of music which featured them chanting and dancing and using spears. Parts of it were ok but it got very repetitive after a while. They got a good response. I guess it's cool to see something very different now and again and it definitely was. A dance singer called Kelly Llorenna came out next to perform 3 songs. Apparently she's had many UK Top 10 hits but before the promotion for this gig I'd never heard of her. She's kind of a typical UK chart singer who does cover versions. She was actually quite good for the type of stuff she does. Her second track was a song I realised I had heard before, a cover version of U2's "I Still Haven't Found...". Doesn't quite have the same impact done this way but it was alright. Thankfully though this dance music only last 3 songs - It was starting to feel eerily like the Feel The Noise show all over again (shudder). She is a good singer though. Once again John Reilly and his band played three songs. He also encouraged all of the crowd to finally get up out of their seats. I think most people weren't aware they were allowed or didn't want to block others view. The second song was dedicated to the people of Madrid (following the train bombings). Dave Kilner came back out to introduce two members of Sheffield biggest ever band Def Leppard...Mais Oui. Joe and Sav came back out to loud applause. Joe mentioned it was nice to see us all out of our seats. He also said something just after the introduction "they f*****g auctioned off the 't' from the end of my name on the poster" . All in good fun of course. This was the start of the best part of the night by far. A very loose kind of jam session of sorts. Sav now sporting a black suit and black electric guitar. Very 70s looking which was appropriate (a taste of things to come maybe....). They kicked things off with a Steve Harley song (by his 70s Cockney Rebel band). Joe said: "Tonight we're doing the Full Monty" I was slightly worried before they kicked into "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (from the movie-filmed in Sheffield). A very good version. Sav was doing the "Oooh na na na" backing vocals and playing some mean guitar. Kelly Llorenna was singing back up near Joe and he kept singing to her and kissed her at the end. They then went straight into another song from the 70s, one of the first ever played by Leppard, "Suffragette City". I only know this via the Cybernauts and it basically sounded exactly like that - very cool. The show now seemed to feel more like a typical rock gig and the atmosphere was really good. I would love to see Def Leppard play this venue on the next tour, a combination of Brixton and Hammersmith. "Can't Get Enough (Of Your Love)" was next and this was great to hear. I've always liked Leps performance of this with both Bryan Adams & the Bon Jovi guys (from various bootlegs). The next song which seemed to be at that stage the last song was "20th Century Boy" by T-Rex. Joe was reflecting on how he used to see bands here like T-Rex, Thin Lizzy etc. Which reminds me, Mr Slade had earlier introduced (or rather pointed her out in the crowd) Phil Lynott's mother Philomena Lynott. Following these 3 songs which Joe took all lead vocals on aswell as playing acoustic guitar, there were a couple of speeches and the charity's founder was introduced to mass applause. Most of the artists all came out for a kind of all-star jam which kicked off with a Beatles (I was gonna say classic but they all are...) "Money (That's What I Want)" Beatlemania alive and well in Sheffield. Joe took the first verse with John Parr, Paul Carrack (also on piano) and Morty all taking turns. They said after this that time had run out but they all came back for one last song and Joe said it was completely unrehearsed so they'd be bound to "f**k it up". Sav didn't play on this one but was at the mike in the background with two other people singing back up. The song was an unusual choice but maybe not so... The average age of this crowd I would say was probably 35-45 and many older than that. Who would probably have grown up with it. So anyway the song was "American Pie" by Don McLean. It was a great version of the song helped by Joe being on co-lead vocals (I've never really cared much for the song before now). After the speeches and the charity introduction the atmosphere was now one of a party and so the song was very loose and everyone onstage and off were having a great time. I'd imagine this part of the show compares to previous charity gigs in which Joe has been involved like the Mick Ronson Memorial. This having been my first one I'd recommend going to one of these events to anyone. Especially if 2 fifths of Def Leppard happen to be involved. Although my motives for going were obviously to see Joe and Sav I do feel pleased to have in some small way contributed to a great cause. They did mention if they could do this again they would like to and I'd defintely be there. A great night. [Recording] :: "Auctioning The T" - 1 CD :: Joe/Sav's 10 songs.

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