We were so looking forward to the Manchester gig. Previous shows on the tour were good, but in our experience a McNabb gig in the Hop and Grape is always exceptional, and on Saturday he surpassed himself.

We had been calling the box office for the previous two days without getting though. Having been turned away from the Preston Adelphi - sold out - we were keen to secure a ticket before hand.

We've always had a special affection for Ian McNabb and the Icicle Works gigs. My brother and I once tried to work out how many times we'd seen him and got very confused. I don't want to be accused of exaggeration, so I'll just say we've seen him more than 30 times and probably less than 100. Probably.

I first heard the Icicle Works at University around 1984. (Anybody remember "Let's Go Down To The River"? Superb track). Halfway through a live broadcast on Janice Long I thought "That's not half bad" and taped the rest. I've still got the tape.

My brother and I started to go to as many concerts as possible, helped by the fact that touring always seemed to be most intense in the North West. Does anybody else remember blistering gigs at the International and the International 2 from about '86? Or the fabulously sprung floor in the Ritz in Manchester? ("Like playing on the back of a truck, folks..."). Or the time the gig came to a spectacular end when the speakers blew up? Or the regular occasions when he got covered in thrown beer? (Just over-exuberance!). Or the Apollo sell-out that featured the belly-dancer? And the hilarious lyric placards he brought on for "Tin Can?" (It only has 13 words!) And the prolonged medley of "Birds Fly"... and I could go on.

My girlfriend, now wife, was introduced several years ago and is also a big fan. She thinks he's "lovely".

Anyway, we'd seen Ian most recently at the Preston Adelphi (another excellent occasion), Ashton Witchwood (where I offered to sell him my wife after the gig, but he just kissed her instead), Derby Guildhall, Sheffield and just failed to get in at Chester. The second Preston gig - the one on this tour - was deeply frustrating. The place was absolutely packed, there was no chance of getting in, and we stood outside in the rain underneath the open window singing along to "Hollow Horse".

As it happens we got to the Manchester venue two hours early and secured a place. It's where we saw Ian with Crazy Horse and it's always a good venue with a good crowd.

We hung around the bar killing time. Halfway through a game of pool we looked up and noticed we were stood next to Roy Corkhill and Mokka, eagerly playing the music quiz fruit machine and showing off their knowledge.

We were at the front at nine, as close to the stage as we could get. A few minutes later the lights went down, on he walked, and within 5 seconds he was into 'Great Dreams of Heaven". A great opener.

What came next I'm not sure, but I do know it was a superb set with plenty of old chestnuts and the best of the recent songs. And as he sang, it just got better. He can create a very special atmosphere and you can't resist singing along, and there were so many fabulous songs to sing to. We tried to recall the set list and failed. What I can tell you is that the following songs featured. What I can't tell you is in which order, although Danny Thompson joined the last dozen or so.

For those who weren't there, put together a tape and play them back to back - you'll see just how good they are. You can imagine the atmosphere.

• Great Dreams of Heaven
• These Are The Days
• I'm Game
• When It All Comes Down (as so often the case, Ian only sang half the song as everybody else was keen to help).
• Love's Young Dream (unusual version with the heavy reverb guitar here)
• Beautiful Old Mystery
• Hollow Horse (again, we pretty much sang the whole lot. Once heard him play this twice back to back, just for the hell of it and to have a good old sing along).
• Starry Blue Eyed Wonder
• You Only Get What You Deserve (I think?)
• Permanent Damage
• You Must Be Prepared To Dream
• Understanding Jane (what a chorus!)
• Head Like A Rock
• Absolutely Wrong (let me tell you, this was brilliant live. Marvellous sing along chorus)
• Merseybeast (clean version, but still rapturous reception)
• Evangeline
• That's Why I Believe (another excellent song too easily overlooked)
• Liverpool Girl
• Camaraderie
• The Man Who Can Make A Woman Laugh
• Still Got The Fever
• Bloom
• Little Princess ("21st century blues, folks")
• Sex With Someone You Love (this may possibly have been the showstopping number)

It was vintage Ian McNabb. He was soulful, bluesy, charming, big-hearted and very witty. During Liverpool Girl he made a big show of "Takes an E and lets off steam...", then paused to go into a great spoof dancefloor number, like a car alarm with a drum track, before singing "How does it feel...?" ("Blue Monday" by New Order). Great laughter, then on with the song.

"Sex With Someone You Love" was perfect, and obviously new to a few in the crowd who killed themselves laughing at the punchline. Danny Thompson just grinned and looked skywards.

But all too soon it was over and he was off stage. Was it really two hours or more? We hollered and stamped, clapped and yelled. So much singing we were all hoarse, but we just kept shouting for more. One song was missing, and he soon came back on and straight into an all-time favourite, "You Stone My Soul".

As always he took it lower in the middle to give everybody chance to sing. Soon it was just Danny on bass and Ian clapping to keep rhythm, and boy did we sing and sing and sing. Then, after a big completion, he took a bow and promised to be back later in the year, with a new album, a full rock 'n' roll band and a tour.

The cheers were deafening. And then he was gone, but the crowd wanted more. We got a "You Stone My Soul" a capella going (just a few hundred of us) for several minutes, but suddenly the lights were up and it was over. I suspect he just stood back stage and thought "That's perfect - leave it there." Fair enough - though we could have gone on for another two hours.

No "Into The Mystic"? You can't have everything. A perfect night, and for us the best one of the tour.

Ian McNabb. Not bad for a Liverpudlian.

(By the way Ian, your team lost after all.)

Martin Jones
26 January 1999

This review Copyright © 1999, Martin Jones. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission.
The right of Martin Jones to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.