• Geoff
  • Geoff
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  • From: Moreton, Wirral, England
  • Registered: 2006-09-26
  • Posts: 1,603

Topic: Manchester Apollo

Arrived at 3.30pm to see what arrangements were made for the sound check. Met up briefly with Aaron, Dave, Colin and Warren, and immediately established that security was going to be a major headache, then went next door to the pub for a beer or two.

Once soundcheck was over, our group of about 10 (Tripsy, her friends, Sue and I and a couple of my friends who were to see Joe for the first time) were ushered in for a very brief meet and greet. It was the shyness of Joe that has won him so many fans, it certainly won him some more that afternoon. Back to the pub until 5, then into the queue (one has to be at the front, if you get my drift). It was a cold wet afternon and eventually you usual culprits sauntered up, Ian (icon) and Pete with their partners plus a few more who I recognised from past shows. Time dragged by and after several trips to the box office, Ian and I were able to pick up our photopasses. Eventually the doors opened at 7pm and we ran down to the front, slightly left of centre and established our places. Unpacked my camera and awaited the support. Immediately one of the front of house security guys came over and after inspecting my pass, insisted that I had to be in the pit to use it. "No removable lenses allowed behind the crush barriers. After reasoning with him - all the usual stuff - he went off and brought the head of security to me, who basically said, you can shoot from within the pit but after three songs, if you want to go back into the theatre you have to surrender your camera to security. As the place was almost full to bursting, there was almost no chance of resuming my position, so I decided to hand over my camera there and then, get a receipt and enjoy the show. Sue's camera was deemed OK to use, but later they told me to stop using that too. What a bunch of cretins!

On with the Show, Ben Montague opened for half an hour accmpanying himself on an accoustic guitar. Very nervous, but clean performance. Not much more to add really.

Then at 8.30 on walks Joe, straight into Cradle Rock. The music just flowed, seamlessly and remorselessly, just like slow train running. Absolutely brillaint set list, same as Colston Hall I believe, highlights for me being Sloe Gin, Mountain Time, Heartaches, WUD, Young Mans Blues - hell the whole show were highlights. The stage set was excellent with good lighting (not too many red wash lights, which always spoil most concert productions). Credits to Warren and his team for getting the sound and lighting spot on.

After the final encore, we were all ushered out of the hall, which rather upset Warren who had come down from his sound desk to deliver Pete's guitar to him. Anyway, we wandered outside and eventually recovered our treasured cameras and headed for the pub next door to grab a pint whilst we awaited Joe and the boys to leave the building. Joe and Sandi left together and Joe kindly stayed by the bus to sign things and pose for photographs. There were lots of people there who had seen Joe for the first time, who chatted with me expressing their astonishment at how pleasant and approachable he was despite him being a big star nowdays!

Anyway, heres a batch that I did take, mainly for the benefit of those who were outside the tour bus and didn't have a camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrPh-vpoDk

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12559573@N … 0007/show/

On to Newcastle.....

Geoff O

Visit my Casino Images website http://www.casino-images.com/

Geoff's Website

  • From: Kemptown MD
  • Registered: 2007-08-05
  • Posts: 146

Re: Manchester Apollo

Geoff, thank you so much for this great write-up!  You painted the whole picture for us, and then supplied the photos!  I especially enjoyed the pictures of loading all the equipment, when you think about Joe's dedicated crew doing this for every show, it makes you appreciate everything that goes into keeping Joe & Co. on the road.

And Joe all bundled in his sweater - that's the true Joe, making time to talk to fans after a show.   And before a show.  And during a show - I'll never forget, during a show at the Birchmere in Virginia, he's playing like mad, walking around, and pops out a "Hi, Cathy!" [to Cathy Siler] and continues to play.  Joe connects with his fans, not as an obligation, but as part of his whole approach to music. 

Thanks for bringing Joe to us - lots of smiles, I'm sure, as people read your post!

~Anne

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  • Titanium
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  • From: Stafford, England
  • Registered: 2009-02-03
  • Posts: 852

Re: Manchester Apollo

Geoff - nice review. No surprise to see you holding pole position on the steps of the Apollo when we arrived, although Sue and Tripsy probably had a better deal in the pub round the corner. Glad we got there early too - especially when it started to rain (well this was Manchester - what do you expect).
Our minor frustrations regarding camera use aside, this was a night to remember. Firstly - kudos to Warren and the crew. As Geoff wrote, our Bonabuddy posse was strung out along the barrier in front of the stage, where the sound quality can be a little unpredictable, but on this occasion the mix was spot on right from the intro to Cradle Rock through to final bars of Just Got Paid, and the lighting was the best yet.
As always, it's tough to pick out highlights with such a quality packed setlist - we even got a a mix of India and Django going into Mountain Time - but The Great Flood was top pick for me last night. If there's a "play it like you mean it" song in the set, then this is it for me. Strange that I first heard this song in Manchester 2 years ago, before TBOJH had even been released, and at the time I didn't see it as a particularly strong song. Made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck last night.
Thanks Joe for a great gig, and for spending the time to chat and pose for photos afterwards. And of course he couldn't have done it without Rick, Carmine, and Bogie - cheers guys! Not sure what Bogie's headwear was all about when the guys came forward to take their bows - I didn't realise Village People had a vacancy!  smile

Ian

PS - I've posted a link to my photos under Cool Pictures.

Please be in no doubt that this is the REAL ME! Beware imposters........................
  • Registered: 2010-10-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Manchester Apollo

I photographed the gig and the three numbers rule is par for the course nowadays...I've always found the staff at the Apollo very friendly and courteous , unlike the MEN Arena where they're a bunch of uptight jobsworths..I'm after someone to do a review of the gig to go online with some of my shots (fully credited of course)....Can anyone help me ?

Cheers..

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  • From: Stafford, England
  • Registered: 2009-02-03
  • Posts: 852

Re: Manchester Apollo

wartypig wrote:

I photographed the gig and the three numbers rule is par for the course nowadays...I've always found the staff at the Apollo very friendly and courteous , unlike the MEN Arena where they're a bunch of uptight jobsworths..I'm after someone to do a review of the gig to go online with some of my shots (fully credited of course)....Can anyone help me ?

Cheers..

Hi Wartypig - welcome to Joe's forum.
The problem at the Apollo was not the 3 songs limit (although the pit seemed to be cleared after 2), but that despite grabbing our front and centre spots against the barrier, Geoff and I were told that we could only use our SLRs inside the pit, which would have meant losing our vantage poit for the rest of the gig. Both of us have had plenty of experience of gigs where common sense prevailed and SLR use has been allowed from behind the barrier (with a photo pass), even if restricted to the first 3 songs.

With regard to the security staff, I will add that the "pit supervisor" was very courteous in explaining the "venue policy", but the explanation as to why was complete BS. Some other members of the security staff however, seemed intent on ditching courtesy in favour of confrontation. Perhaps they are trained at the Liam Gallagher school of etiquette...................

Ian

Please be in no doubt that this is the REAL ME! Beware imposters........................
  • Registered: 2010-10-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Manchester Apollo

Icon wrote:
wartypig wrote:

I photographed the gig and the three numbers rule is par for the course nowadays...I've always found the staff at the Apollo very friendly and courteous , unlike the MEN Arena where they're a bunch of uptight jobsworths..I'm after someone to do a review of the gig to go online with some of my shots (fully credited of course)....Can anyone help me ?

Cheers..

Hi Wartypig - welcome to Joe's forum.
The problem at the Apollo was not the 3 songs limit (although the pit seemed to be cleared after 2), but that despite grabbing our front and centre spots against the barrier, Geoff and I were told that we could only use our SLRs inside the pit, which would have meant losing our vantage poit for the rest of the gig. Both of us have had plenty of experience of gigs where common sense prevailed and SLR use has been allowed from behind the barrier (with a photo pass), even if restricted to the first 3 songs.

With regard to the security staff, I will add that the "pit supervisor" was very courteous in explaining the "venue policy", but the explanation as to why was complete BS. Some other members of the security staff however, seemed intent on ditching courtesy in favour of confrontation. Perhaps they are trained at the Liam Gallagher school of etiquette...................

Ian

I totally understand you point of view and ope you don't think I was "having a pop"..It was never my intention (I shoot better than I type)......I can't see what the problem was with being behind the barrier as long as passes were held ?......The ape on the Box Office door is a real charmer isn't he ;o)

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Manchester Apollo

Thanks Geoff for getting the ball rolling.
What an amazing night! First of all I want to say thank you to Warren and of course Joe for allowing us in for a bit of the soundcheck. Young Simon whose 21st birthday it was certainly had a day to remember. His friend Mark was very impressed by the sound desk and all the equipment. He is studying sound engineering at college and was made up to get a close look.
The lighting for this tour has been absolutely awesome. As well as the light curtain backdrop the coloured spotlights were so effective. I loved it....well done.

Cradle Rock is a great opener, really good to hear that one live. I did manage to capture most of it before I had my camcorder confiscated  roll   I'm just glad they didn't take the tape

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XibLHNWixWc

I have to agree with Ian as well. The Great Flood was beautiful. I too wasn't hugely keen on it at first but I love it now....a real Joe classic. Even though the focus is mainly on Joe I must acknowledge just how great Carmine, Bogie and Rick were too. I found myself focusing on them many times during the show. Bogie's drumming on Happier Times and Just Got Paid was totally brilliant and he did catch the stick on the second toss up  smile . I loved Carmine's interplay with Joe on Young Man's Blues. He was looking very good in his JB Union Jack t shirt too  cool
Rick's keys shone through so many times especially on Sloe Gin. Well done Geoff for capturing that one.
Joe has described the band as a benevolent dictatorship.....whatever you call it ...it works beautifully.

I did manage to sneak one more video on my trusty little Fuji. The security staff were maybe a little distracted by the other goings on. If you spot the movement of people in the camera pit during the song it was the paramedics wheeling out some poor chap who looked pretty poorly. I do hope he was alright.

Woke Up Dreaming    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa-VrPl3Wt4

I must mention Ben Montague. I really enjoyed his set. One man and his guitar in front of 3000 people. I think he was a little bit nervous but his singing is really good and the songs well written. He reminded me a bit of John Mayer and also Will Young. I captured one of his songs. A new one called Another Hard Fall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ypqWn0nhxQ

I was standing next to a man called Craig and his very young daughter Jessica. It was their first live Joe experience. Jessica had only been to two live shows before....Girls Aloud and the X Factor. Guess what?......she absolutely loved it.....result!  cool  I hope she tells all her friends about the experience. Craig was blown away too. He says he'll definitely be back for more. Another Bonaddiction begins  lol

Tripsy smile

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  • From: Stafford, England
  • Registered: 2009-02-03
  • Posts: 852

Re: Manchester Apollo

wartypig wrote:

I totally understand you point of view and ope you don't think I was "having a pop"..It was never my intention (I shoot better than I type)......I can't see what the problem was with being behind the barrier as long as passes were held ?......The ape on the Box Office door is a real charmer isn't he ;o)

No worries - the thought never entered my head.  big_smile

The Ape was top of my list of Gallager's classmates  lol

Please be in no doubt that this is the REAL ME! Beware imposters........................
  • From: High Wycombe UK
  • Registered: 2010-10-11
  • Posts: 20

Re: Manchester Apollo

Thanks Geoff, and thanks to all for your great videos and pictures as ever!
We finally arrived in Manchester at 5.30pm after a long 4 hour drive, so just time to check into the hotel and get across to the venue. We were quite far back in the queue so we didn't quite get pole position as we did at Folkestone, but good enough nonetheless. Met up with our daughter who had travelled over from Sheffield Uni with her friend.
Another superb performance (is there any other kind with Joe  smile )! The lighting was fantastic and the band great - have to agree with Tripsy on Bogie's drumming on Happier Times and Just Got Paid. Sloe Gin and Woke Up Dreaming were highlights for us as they usually are, but hey it's all quality stuff.
Unfortunately couldn't hang around afterwards this time, but we met Joe last Saturday after the Folkestone gig, so it's all good.
Can anyone explain what Bogie's hardhat was for?  smile
R&B

  • Registered: 2010-10-16
  • Posts: 49

Re: Manchester Apollo

Any takers for doing a review ?

  • From: Charlotte
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 2,350

Re: Manchester Apollo

Nice reviews Geoff and Tripsy and everyone else, sounds like an awesome show.

Music is good for the Soul...
  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2010-10-16
  • Posts: 3

Re: Manchester Apollo

Thanks Geoff for posting your review and especially your video of Sloe Gin. On the night this was the highlight of the show for me (although the whole show was simply amazing and full of highlight after highlight). We (me and my 14 year old daughter, Jessica) were stood just a few feet to your left , next to the very friendly and welcoming Tripsy (great photos too Tripsy). To be able to watch that video and look as the photos when the memory of the night inevitably fades a little will bring it all back.
That night I was priviledged to see perhaps the most talented guitarist on this planet at this moment in time and it is something I will never forget.
Jessica was even impressed with Joes choice of footwear - black leather Converse , especially as she was wearing brown leather Converse on the night too!
That was our initiation into the JB live shows and it will not be our last.

  • From: West Yorkshire, England
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 1,587

Re: Manchester Apollo

Hi Craig.....welcome to the forum smile  It was really nice to meet you and Jessica too. I'm very happy that you got in the queue so early and so had a prime position for the show. It's the best place to be..... to see up close Joe weaving his magic ....and of course to get a good look at the footwear  lol
You were right when you said that Joe is even better live than on cd. After the show you could appreciate why we just keep coming back for more! Hope to see you both at another show next time around.

Tripsy smile