It’s not often that a group for 25 years, but one such group is Mike + The Mechanics, who return in 2011 with a new album, The Road and a tour, which rolled into Glasgow on the 25th of May.
Supporting the main act was Scarlette Fever, who, for a change in support acts, actually had the same sort of sound as the main act. Powering through a strong set of songs from her album Medication Time including Crash & Burn, Black & White, Good Day. and Cheating Man For those that wished, there was an opportunity to buy the album and meet the artist at the interval whilst the stage was set up for the main act.
The show opened with the title track from the new album, The Road which introduced the two new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar. Mike Rutherford welcomed and introduced himself and the band, before heading Beggar On A Beach Of Gold which was interesting to hear Tim Howar take lead vocals on, but he did the song proud. This was straight into Get Up, before slowing it down to beautiful version of Try To Save Me which Andrew Roachford on lead vocals and keyboards. From here it was a couple of older songs from the extensive catalogue; Nobody Knows, Another Cup Of Coffee and I Don't Do Love.
If I Were You (from the album, Rewired) is next and Mike explains that when the song was original written, it was done so to be sung as a duet. Andrew takes the male while Tim takes on what would be the female section. There's a slight detour here as Roachford performs one of his own songs, Only To Be With You. From this it's straight into Follow You, Follow Me and I Can't Dance, not Mike + The Mechanics songs but songs from Mike's “other band”, Genesis.
Next is a song that probably everyone knows and maybe one of the most well known Mike + The Mechanics, and that is The Living Years. It doesn't take much for the audience to join in with the backing singing on the chorus. After this was another well known song, being Over My Shoulder and I Need A Miracle. All left the stage and, as is customary, the chanting began to get the group back on stage.
On coming back, Andrew Roachford performs his song Cuddly Toy, that finally got everyone to their feet for a little dance. The night finished with what, Tim Howar explained was a traditional ending to a concert. This is of course, Word Of Mouth, which ended up with lots arm waving and singing along in traditional Scottish behaviour.
Overall it was a fantastic night, let down only by the number of people who turned out for the gig (only the stall appeared to have been sold). For those who hesitated in going, it was their loss. Andrew and Tim, although being new to the group treated the back catalogue with the respect it deserved whilst bring their own unique twist on it to make them theirs, and the new material sounded fantastic live. The one complaint; why does Mike Rutherford make playing the guitar look like a walk in the park? If you get a chance, do get to see them live.
Photos © Vhari Lannigan
Scarlette Fever
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Mike + The Mechanics
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Buy @ Play.com | iTunes
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