An Evening with Tony Wright

Tony's Pledger's Only Album Launch

Gulliver's Manchester

July 20th, 2014

Last night took us over to Manchester to an exclusive gig hosted by Terrorvision front man Tony Wright, who was hosting a couple of these shows to celebrate the launch of his first solo album, 'Thoughts 'N' All'. In March Tony decided to use the Pledge Music forum to get funding to make the album and was amazed when his project reached 100% in the first 24 hours.

For those who are unaware of pledge, it is an internet based forum which allows artists to raise money to fund their music projects while at the same time giving something back to the fans.  For example a small pledge of around £8 will get you the digital download of an album.  Other pledges can range from items such as the physical CD, t-shirts, exclusive VIP gigs right through to experience days where you can hang out with your favourite band at the studio while they are recording or even own one of the instruments used to make the record.

Using the Pledge campaigns also means that it cuts out the major record companies which gives artists more say over the music they produce.  More and more bands are using this method and it seems to be growing in popularity.

Tonight's show is in the upstairs room of a backstreet Manchester pub.  It is small, dark and very hot!

Although the project is a solo project he does have a little help with backing music from Milton Evans (Terrorvision) and Steve Clarkson.

The first part of the evening consisted of Tony, Milly and Steve playing the album in it's entirety.  The album has 10 songs including 'Self Portrait', 'Little Things', 'Roll Over' and 'Gunner Getchya'.

The songs have some fantastic and intricate guitar lines, which mixed with Tony's lyrics made the songs really easy on the ear.

Included in the entertainment was the banter that ran back and forth between Tony and Milly between (and in some cases during) the songs.  I found myself laughing at Tony's one liners in all the breaks between the songs.  My favourite being the pencil ultimate song as he had used a pencil to write it rather than a pen!

Once the album had been played Tony announced that it they would normally go backstage and prepare for the encore but as the dressing room was at the other end of the building they decided not to bother. 

For their encore they played Terrorvision favourites 'Tequila', 'Alice (What's The Matter)' and 'Friends and Family', which got the crowd joining in a showed that it was obvious that the old school Terrorvision fans were backing him in his solo endeavours.

After the show Tony and Milly stuck around for photos and to sign the copies of the CD's that pledger's received on entry. 

The room only held about fifty people so it was a very intimate gig and a great atmosphere.  I would definitely pledge for something like this again as it was a really great night.   

Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet

Haydock Racecourse

July 19th, 2014

Never being one to turn down a free night out I was thrilled when my husband won tickets for my sister and I to attend Saturday's race meeting at Haydock Park, especially when I discovered that the night would end with a concert by Wet Wet Wet, a band that had one of the prime spots on my bedroom wall through some of my teenage years!

As neither my sister or I are really into horses we decided to go in time for the last race and the concert rather than the whole day. 

Wet Wet Wet kicked off the night with 'Wishing I was Lucky' and proceeded to play all of their well known hits from across the years and pretty much the whole of 'Popped In Souled Out', which was the album that shot them to fame in 1987.

Consisting of Marti Pellow, Tommy Cunningham, Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell, Wet Wet Wet  have been on the music scene for many years and do not seem to have lost any of their spark.  They put in an energetic and very upbeat, feel good set, which I'm sure sent the majority of their audience back to their teenage years.

Playing songs such as 'Sweet Little Mystery', 'East of The River', 'Angel Eyes', 'Temptation' and 'Julia Says' they had the crowd kicking off their heels and dancing on the grass in front of the small stage.

Finishing the night with their cover version of the Troggs, 'Love Is All Around', which spent fifteen weeks at the number one in the charts in 1994 after being used on the soundtrack to the film 'Four Weddings and a Funeral', they left Haydock to loud cheers and thunderous applause from the crowd.

 

These guys are not someone that I would have ever bought a ticket for as it would not have crossed my mind to go and see them but I'm glad I did as I had a fantastic night. Another one to add to my list of guilty pleasures!