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Durham
The Gala Theatre
November 25, 2005

                             Review and pictures from Ray Martin and Alan Howard

Wow!! Now I do believe in Magic as I saw the Wizard on Friday night.
I flew over to Newcastle on Friday afternoon and hired a little car to bring me the 20 or so miles south to Durham City and "THE ROBIN TROWER GIG".
 I had arranged to meet up with Alan Howard at our chosen hotel. Alan was instantly recognisable with his Living Out Of Time T-Shirt proudly on display. We had a drink at the bar (the first of what was to be many) then headed out of the hotel to make the short 5 minute walk to the Gala Theatre.
After 3 or 4 more pints we eagerly took our seats for the start of Robin's set. I was instantly transported to another time and another place when Twice Removed From Yesterday began. I think I've travelled here before but it was a long long time ago. Robin has IMHO never sounded so fresh. Hannah, Roads To Freedom, Victims Of
The Fury, Fine Day, Daydream ( I cried like a baby again ) they were all there in their glory and sounding like they were released only yesterday. Davey would be the first to admit he is no Jimmy Dewar but he most certainly brought these older songs to life and Go My Way with it's new funkier feel is his song. The band quite obviously enjoyed playing these favourites as well as the audience enjoyed hearing them. The set list (which I got from the stage) is like you can see here
This was quite simply the BEST ROBIN TROWER GIG I have ever had the pleasure to attend. Ever.

Following the gig Alan and I picked up a few beers to bring back to the band's hotel and jumped in a taxi. After a little bit of detective work we met up with Robin, Davey, Dave and "Pelican Pete". (That's a great story, later) Robin politely excused himself and retired to bed and Davey who had a long trip home also decided to hit the sack.
Alan and I sat and enjoyed a good chat and a few beers with Dave and Pete. Time got lost somewhere through the night but I think we got back to our hotel at around 1am.
This is yet another Trower experience emblazoned on my mind and soul.
I will never forget this concert.

Ray and Robin

                                                                      Review from Alan Howard

There really is nothing quite like seeing and hearing The Robin Trower Band playing live. It is, for me, just about the best experience on the planet! Tonight’s show at Durham’s gleaming Gala Theatre was a real treat for everyone in the house.
Robin and the band were in awesome form. The music was incredible and the audience absolutely loved it despite having to show their appreciation from the vantage point of reserved seating.
The set list on this tour, a stroke of sheer genius by Robin, has delved deeply into back catalogue with the emphasis very much on the first two studio albums and a little bit of ‘For Earth Below’ and ‘Victims of the Fury’ thrown in for good measure.
Tonight, with 11 shows under their belts on this second batch of 2005 UK dates, the band really hit the spot. They put their all into the show, playing every note effortlessly, right down to the very last semi-quaver. It was the most perfect show.

Will there be a live CD release arising from this tour to rival the rocking Ruf Records release from the first tour? We can but hope! I have absolutely no doubt that UK fans would buy such an official release were it to be made available.
‘Twice removed from yesterday’ opens the show with a loud thump and with heartbreaker ‘Hannah’ following in swift succession the stylish playing of Mr Pete Thompson on drums is very much under the spotlight. SteveShail tells me that dear old ‘Hannah’ is probably the one song from Robin's back catalogue that Davey Pattison has been looking forward to singing live the most.
Robin’s carefully chosen combination of songs has proved to be an extremely strong selection, not least for Davey. His vocals on ‘Hannah’, ‘Roads to Freedom’ and Robin’s sunshine rocker ‘Fine Day’ are absolutely ‘top-draw’, as Andy Gray would say!
Pete adds a magical offbeat cymbal ride on the chorus of ‘Roads to Freedom’, a sensational embellishment for this superb song. Dave Bronze, tonight trading in the traditional sound of his Fender Precision for the more expansive tones of his blue Lakland bass, gets to have most of the fun on ‘Fine Day’ with his endless fills and runs, heaven!
Dave is the main man on instrumental ‘Islands’, a song revisited from the first times he toured with Robin sometwenty years back. Robin’s jazzy lead on this feelgood anthem simply knocks you back in the chair. Wow! The music has almost a cinematic feel to it, particularly so towards the end.
‘Day of the Eagle’ and ‘Bridge of Sighs’, played as one continuous number, are The Robin Trower Band’s signature tunes. Take what you need, you’ll find everything you could possibly ever want from here.
                                
‘Rise up like the Sun’ has Dave Bronze running up and down the fret board in a frenzy going the full distancewhile managing to introduce more notes. This blues number, faster than as heard on ‘20C Blues’, is another song which has travelled extremely well on this tour.
‘Little bit of Sympathy’ brings the audience to its feet. Robin's blistering lead breaks on ‘Lady Love’ and ‘Daydream’ round off proceedings to thunderous applause. Robin is soon out front meeting the fans, signing autographs and posing for photos. Thank you so much for this!
The 500 plus seater theatre looked well over 75% sold to me. Amazing when you think this tour hasn’t really had the oxygen of publicity safe for the promotional work by the venues concerned and various websites, probably all the right places but I’m sure the fans can and will do more to spread the word. Yes folks, the Robin Trower Band are back in the UK for good and appearing at a theatre near you soon! Best wishes to Laurie and Steve for all their hard work and professionalism also to the excellent support provided by Mr Jon Amor.
One last thing, promoting the remixed ‘LOOT’ at the March and April shows was definitely a good move. On this November tour, albeit with the release of the new ‘Live’ and remixed ‘Another Days Blues’ in the offing, I think the success for many of us diehard fans was seeing and hearing this band playing the songs perfected by  Robin, Jimmy, Reg and Bill.
Sadly, it wasn’t possible for us here in the UK to see the current line-up until 2005. But, Halleluiah, thank goodness we did! I know I speak for many UK fans when I say it would be terrific for us to hear here just a few of the songs synonymous with this band’s trail-blazing tours of the USA in the mid to late 80s.
Top of my personal wish-list has to be ‘No Time’ from the ‘Passion’ record but I’m sure numbers such as ‘If forever’, ‘Over You’ and ‘Tear it up’ would all be equally very well received. Either way, it’s an absolute joy and pleasure to see Robin and this band back ‘on the road’ in the UK after all this time.
This is Alan Howard on reporting for ‘Steve’s Place’ and hoping there may be more Trower shows to come in the UK, in which case Mr Shail, you’ll just have to get back here too!
After all these years of emailing that other correspondent, Northern Ireland’s finest Mr Ray Martin and following the disasters which had prevented us getting together on several previous occasions, it was a veritable joy to meet up with him. Cheers Ray, ‘twas a great night. Greetings also to two other true ‘Trowerheads’ David Smith and Tom Connor. Gentlemen, keep in touch, see you next time!
Thanks also to everyone who gave me such a hard time on this tour about my website
www.robintrowerlive.co.uk and the fact that I’ve failed to keep it updated. This ticking off is both entirely justified and much needed so I promise to and will do better in the future!
In the meantime folks, least we forget, all hail Steve Shail!

   Well I can tell you that 2006 is going to be even more exciting for Trower fans than 2005 was!!

 More to come ....................  always!!!