Ronnie Scotts, Birmingham

With memories still strong of a Christmas gig widely held to be one of the best in McNabb's entire career, this was always going to be a difficult one. What do you do when the tough act to follow just happens to be yourself?

The former Icicle Works frontman opted for change, opening the set with a brace of unfamiliar songs, highlighted by 'Hollywood Tears' - a song which could perhaps serve up that elusive solo hit single.

McNabb seemed at first a tad rushed, setlling down with hallmarks like 'Permanent Damage' and an understated 'Understanding Jane', and flying by the time he reached 'Fire Inside My Soul' with its respectful nod to The Doors.

The second set was a different matter, with highly-charged renditions of live favourites ranging from 'Camaraderie' to 'Evangeline' and 'Still Got The Fever', the latter with a snatch of Buffalo Springfield thrown in for good measure.

Surprise covers included Ben E King's 'Stand By Me' and Neil Young's 'Heart Of Gold', and there were deliciously subversive parodies of Bob Dylan and Stevie Nicks along the way, plus a Robbie Williams one-liner.

Just after midnight the anthemic 'Stone My Soul' closed a night to remember, and another tough act to follow when McNabb plays the Robin 2 at Bilston for his semi-plugged solo farewell on February 27.

Paul Cole

The Set List

• Why Are The Beautiful So Sad?
• Is He What You Wanted?
• Hollywood Tears
• Too Close To The Sun
• What She Did To My Mind
• Permanent Damage
• Understanding Jane (slow acoustic version)
• Liverpool Girl
• I'm A Genius
• Loveless Age (overdrive electric version)
• Fire Inside My Soul / Light My Fire (The Doors)
• That's Why I Believe

  ---

• Camaraderie
• Merseybeast
• (Bob Dylan spoof)
• Heart Of Gold (Neil Young)
• Little Princess
• Love's Young Dream
• Evangeline
• Still Got The Fever / For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield)
• One True Love
• Sex With Someone You Love
• Stand By Me (Ben E King)

  ---

• (Stevie Nicks spoof)
• Bloom

  ---

• Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)
• You Stone My Soul

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