"I talk too much" tour - my review Richmond theatre
Apr 4, 2019 10:33:06 GMT
4th Chord, vivfromcov, and 7 more like this
Post by curiousgirl on Apr 4, 2019 10:33:06 GMT
I've tried not to give too many spoilers as this event tours until late May but I don't think I've mentioned anything that isn't revealed in the shorter reviews.
I nearly didn't go to this. When the tour was announced, I thought no. But after Christmas, I felt sentimental, I enjoy live events and bought a decent seat before they all went. I could have gone last minute as it was not sold out but not be sat 6 rows from the front.
I have also never felt so ambivalent about a Quo event in the run up to this. I kept thinking that I must not forget to go. And it felt strange not to be really excited about going to see Francis live. If you had told my teenage self that this is how I would feel all these years later, she would have never have believed you.
The venue was a good choice for me. Conveniently located but also a really pretty, intimate theatre and perfect for a conversational show. As soon as I took my seat, I felt the buzz of anticipation. I've always loved live events and that is why I went. To hear him speak right there, in the same moment as I was sat there listening.
I've seen comments that this is for the casual fan but that was not my impression. It is about his whole career so unfortunately for many of us, myself included, the golden period of the 70s/80s is only a small part of those 50+ years he's been in showbiz.
It is quite short which is a shame because Francis was on great form last night and he tells a good tale. He mentioned that Bob Young was in, so when he closed with their version of Caroline, it felt particularly special as he was there too.
Mick Wall is there to guide Francis through specific sections of his career but does not say that much. And he is probably moral support too. I would imagine being totally solo on stage would be terrifying if you've never done that before. I speak as someone who once, many years ago performed a one woman stage show. The performance is also divided up by video clips to remind us of key events. I guess they are needed to give the evening a shape and to give him a rest from speaking but for me they were the least interesting part of night and kept interrupting the stories.
What was fresh for me, as a fan who has heard all his stories many times, were his sharing of how music is made. I loved hearing and seeing demonstrated different musical styles, including how they created the POMM sound. Very technical for those who love that detail which I enjoyed too. And then... the crafty bugger went and played the jig! I was there in March 2014, on the 2nd night at Hammersmith and we had banners up for them to play the jig and he would not do it. But now here it was. Sigh. It was good to hear though.
He's clearly an excellent guitarist and he played some great acoustic blues. And it is clear there was no need for the strum-a-long style of Aquostic. Much to my surprise he gives a good music rendition of the Coronation Street theme song. Actually his stories about him and Rick filming were fun too, whatever you think of the show and them being in it.
The other surprise, of course I knew he would talk about Rick how could he not, the other surprise was how heartfelt and graphic he was about his death. I sat there on the edge of my seat, hands over my mouth as he spoke. This was not a slick performance but someone clearly reminiscing back to a painful time in their life. And the sharing of Rick coming back to life in his dreams rings true to me as I've experienced that when someone very close to me died also. And then he ends that section with, "and that was my partner Rick Parfitt."
Okay, so this was not a memorial event for Rick but a book tour to sell both the book and the CD (which he does not talk about) but in terms of Francis paying personal tribute for Rick's memory and legacy (there were other details from their earlier times too), I felt moved by this. And this was enough for me to think this was his way of showing his respect for their lifetime work together.
And then we were into the rubbish Q&A. Slightly different questions to the ones referred to in other threads but equally dire. A genuine Q&A would have had roving mics and taken them live but this was not what was wanted. No wonder Francis said in TV interviews that the questions could be contentious. She raises a sceptical eye brow now.
He closes with Caroline and a sing-along. Good ending to the evening. I am really glad I went. It felt like a closure of sorts. I suspect I won't be seeing any more live Quo now.
No pics allowed during the show. So this was the guitar tech checking all in order. I love the Italian flag background too.
I nearly didn't go to this. When the tour was announced, I thought no. But after Christmas, I felt sentimental, I enjoy live events and bought a decent seat before they all went. I could have gone last minute as it was not sold out but not be sat 6 rows from the front.
I have also never felt so ambivalent about a Quo event in the run up to this. I kept thinking that I must not forget to go. And it felt strange not to be really excited about going to see Francis live. If you had told my teenage self that this is how I would feel all these years later, she would have never have believed you.
The venue was a good choice for me. Conveniently located but also a really pretty, intimate theatre and perfect for a conversational show. As soon as I took my seat, I felt the buzz of anticipation. I've always loved live events and that is why I went. To hear him speak right there, in the same moment as I was sat there listening.
I've seen comments that this is for the casual fan but that was not my impression. It is about his whole career so unfortunately for many of us, myself included, the golden period of the 70s/80s is only a small part of those 50+ years he's been in showbiz.
It is quite short which is a shame because Francis was on great form last night and he tells a good tale. He mentioned that Bob Young was in, so when he closed with their version of Caroline, it felt particularly special as he was there too.
Mick Wall is there to guide Francis through specific sections of his career but does not say that much. And he is probably moral support too. I would imagine being totally solo on stage would be terrifying if you've never done that before. I speak as someone who once, many years ago performed a one woman stage show. The performance is also divided up by video clips to remind us of key events. I guess they are needed to give the evening a shape and to give him a rest from speaking but for me they were the least interesting part of night and kept interrupting the stories.
What was fresh for me, as a fan who has heard all his stories many times, were his sharing of how music is made. I loved hearing and seeing demonstrated different musical styles, including how they created the POMM sound. Very technical for those who love that detail which I enjoyed too. And then... the crafty bugger went and played the jig! I was there in March 2014, on the 2nd night at Hammersmith and we had banners up for them to play the jig and he would not do it. But now here it was. Sigh. It was good to hear though.
He's clearly an excellent guitarist and he played some great acoustic blues. And it is clear there was no need for the strum-a-long style of Aquostic. Much to my surprise he gives a good music rendition of the Coronation Street theme song. Actually his stories about him and Rick filming were fun too, whatever you think of the show and them being in it.
The other surprise, of course I knew he would talk about Rick how could he not, the other surprise was how heartfelt and graphic he was about his death. I sat there on the edge of my seat, hands over my mouth as he spoke. This was not a slick performance but someone clearly reminiscing back to a painful time in their life. And the sharing of Rick coming back to life in his dreams rings true to me as I've experienced that when someone very close to me died also. And then he ends that section with, "and that was my partner Rick Parfitt."
Okay, so this was not a memorial event for Rick but a book tour to sell both the book and the CD (which he does not talk about) but in terms of Francis paying personal tribute for Rick's memory and legacy (there were other details from their earlier times too), I felt moved by this. And this was enough for me to think this was his way of showing his respect for their lifetime work together.
And then we were into the rubbish Q&A. Slightly different questions to the ones referred to in other threads but equally dire. A genuine Q&A would have had roving mics and taken them live but this was not what was wanted. No wonder Francis said in TV interviews that the questions could be contentious. She raises a sceptical eye brow now.
He closes with Caroline and a sing-along. Good ending to the evening. I am really glad I went. It felt like a closure of sorts. I suspect I won't be seeing any more live Quo now.
No pics allowed during the show. So this was the guitar tech checking all in order. I love the Italian flag background too.