Despite the tinnitus in my left ear, and hearing deficiencies in my right, I am still listening to as much live music whilst I still can. I am trying to balance the gigs I attend by seeing a mixture of new acts and heritage acts. Last night at the Genting Arena, Birmingham (the NEC to you and me) was a still great heritage act, Bad Company.
Bad Company was a supergroup, comprising superstars from other big groups. Still there are guitar player Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople), drummer Simon Kirke (Free) and of course the voice of Paul Rodgers. Having heard them last night, a supergroup they remain.
As with so many top rock bands, they sound so much more powerful in a live performance. They did not mess around with their big songs (I hate it when bands do that), they played some lesser known deep cuts and there was even a new song, the excellent Troubleshooter.
This was a short set, barely 75 minutes, but we must remember that this is a band of senior citizens, with Ralphs in his 73rd year. Ralphs can still play a mean axe, Kirke is a bricklayer of a drummer and Paul Rodgers still has the finest voice in rock.
Oh there is some competition for best singer and it is a subjective view, but the voice of Paul Rodgers is still a world wonder. Unlike some singers, there is no need to over-amplify his voice: the power is a musical hurricane.
I do not care if Bad Co are going through the motions, raking in a few bob for the pension pot, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. This was very much a bucket list gig for me. I have always wanted to see and hear Rodgers and he didn’t disappoint. He was everything I hoped he would be and more.
I felt as though I was in the presence of greatness (and no,in-joke alert, I didn’t mean you, Kevin) and I don’t regret any part of the small mortgage I had to take out in order to be there.
I did not catch the support act, at least not in the hall, given how terrible it sounded. Richie Sambora, the ex Bon Jovi axeman, churned out a dreary set of covers including Sonny and Cher’s I Got You Babe and some pound shop versions of Bon Jovi’s stadium crowd pleasers. And this was my big complaint.
Just get rid of all support acts and let’s have the main act on at, say, 8.00pm. This will save everyone plenty of wasted time and the opportunity to get back to my local before last orders.
Yes, I’ve seen Paul Rodgers live. I’ve finally done it. It wasn’t a karaoke show; just real life top notch brilliantly played rock music.
And when it comes brilliantly played rock music, I can’t get enough. (See what I did there?)
Setlist
Live for the Music
Gone, Gone, Gone
Feel Like Makin’ Love
Electricland
Burnin’ Sky
Run With The Pack
Ready for Love
Crazy Circles
Troubleshooter
Movin’ On
Shooting Star
Can’t Get Enough
Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy
Encore:
Bad Company
Encore 2:
Rock Steady
