BE careful what you wish for, it may come up and surprise you. Ian McNabb occasionally dreams of the stadium stardom that was within his grasp in the heyday of The Icicle Works.

He plans to return later in the year in a full-blown rock'n'roll format, but this final farewell to his year of semi-plugged soirees was an intimate affair to steal the soul.

Diehard fans have come to expect memorable nights from the Scouse singer-songwriter, ever since a string of dates at Ronnie Scott's tempted him to fly solo and semi-acoustic.

Even by such high standards, this was an emotional encounter. The set stretched out as the crowd called him back for seven encore songs to climax a two and a half hour marathon.

McNabb ended up in the centre of the room, strumming a battery-powered guitar as the faithful serenaded him, word-perfect, with the lyrics to hallmark "Love Is A Wonderful Colour."

The 25-song set ranged past, present and future. A stripped down "Hollow Horse," acoustic "Fire Inside My Soul" and newcomer "Living Proof" were musical milestones en route.

"Let me be introspective a while longer, we'll get to the rocky stuff later," he pleaded. "Still Got The Fever" enjoyed an understated revision, and "Birds Fly" acquired a Bo Diddley beat.

There were sly musical asides aimed at Robbie Williams and Black Sabbath, and nods to The Doors ("Light My Fire"), Van Morrison ("Gloria"), Led Zeppelin ( "Dazed & Confused") and The Who ("Magic Bus").

He cranked up the amps for "Little Princess," "Understanding Jane" and "Evangeline" and took the roof off with "You Stole My Soul." Each song seemed a highlight.

Ian McNabb still has the fever. Up, close and personal, it's infectious. Who needs the NEC?

Paul Cole