![[Ian plays the Life Cafe, Liverpool. Select image to enlarge.]](cafepic1.jpg)
We had last seen Ian & Co. perform at the Robin 2, Bilston in
February. When hearing he wouldn't be touring till 2000 we decided
to see him on home ground.We arrived from Birmingham about 7.45pm, quickly snatched a bite to eat at Bella Pasta and then headed to the Life Bar.
We had last seen Ian & Co. perform at the Robin 2, Bilston in
February. When hearing he wouldn't be touring till 2000 we decided
to see him on home ground.
Well what can we say, other than he was up to his usual standard-excellent! He opened the set with the old rallying song 'Hollow Horse,' which was instantly shouted back to him (particularly by two ladies near to the front). Many old favourites followed (which were also shouted back!!) plus the odd newish number-'Why Are The Beautiful So Sad'-love the words Ian, spot on!
After a twenty min break he was back looking a lot more footloose and ready to rock His first announcement was that the concert was being recorded and would be transmitted(we all held our breath) on UK living at 4.30am Saturday!, and he continued, although we couldn't see it there was a hidden camera (some of the audience looked -will they ever learn!) videoing the proceedings which were being beamed live to giant plasma screens, in Aldi car parks all over Liverpool! We didn't realize the significance until learning that Sir Paul was performing at the Cavern the following evening.
Ian then asked us what we wanted to hear. Someone kept asking for 'Into the Mystic.' Ian retorted, "If you want to hear that, go and see Van Morrison at the Empire, he plays there twice a year"-exit one very embarrassed fan........
After two hours plus, hearing many favourites (including rare airings of 'Rapids' & 'Reaping The Rich Harvest' the gig was over (all too soon).The evening ended with the McNabb anthem 'You Stone My Soul'-which Ian and Roy (Corkill) chanted with us! Ian then thanked us for coming to see him and exited the stage quickly re-emerging informing us what he was doing for the millennium-"f*****g staying in!!!"
We headed out into the cold city street, tired but happy. It was rather a brisk walk back to our digs, after all didn't Ian once sing "They'll kill you for your raincoat in this town" (only joking!)
See you next year, hopefully in a town near us,
Steve & Adele Wood
Received 4 January 2000. Posted 4
January. Minor HTML/text corrections 1 April 2000
Copyright © 2000, Steve & Adele Wood. All
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