This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley 'By Request' - Robin 2, Bilston, Wolverhampton - 25th March 2006
The 'By Request' tour rolls into The Robin 2 at Bilston in Wolverhampton. It is a Saturday night, so easy for me to have the time to go. The Robin 2 is a smallish, standing venue on the outskirts of Wolverhampton. I had never been there before, I had decided late that I wanted to see Tony there previously, but it had sold out on that occasion, this time, even though it was standing, I bought my ticket as soon as they went on sale.
Arrived at the venue early and managed to get a good place near the front of the queue. The doors opened a little late and we made our way to the front. Once I had got my space just to the left of Tony's microphone and second row back, I decided to stay there for the duration. Tony wasn't due on stage until 9.00 pm, so we were treated to a selection of 80's songs.
Just after 9 pm, Tony bounded onto the small stage. No room for the bar this time and only one television which didn't show us the nice video of the roaring fire. I could only see John Keeble's chest as his face was obscured by one of the cymbals (I didn't notice at the time, but for the last song of the first half, he wasn't wearing his t-shirt. I'm not surprised that he took his shirt off as it was incredibly hot for the whole show, Tony looked like he was melting.
The Robin 2 was the ideal venue for a 'rock' set and this was what was chosen for the second half. The first half had been the same as Aylesbury, so I'm starting to know the songs in that part. I had chosen 'Somebody Told Me' as my 'By Request' song, he did sing this one but he read out someone else's reason why. The encore was not as on the set list. Tony asked what song people wanted him to sing and Free Falling was suggested so he sang that, he then sang Only When You Leave and finished off with I Predict A Riot. This was a completely different gig to the Aylesbury one, Tony was on Top form and the venue made for a much better atmosphere. I really enjoyed this one and would go back to the Robin 2 anytime that Tony played there again.
At the end of the gig, the venue turned into a disco, I wasn't that interested in that and after a drink, went round to the stage door. Eventually after about an hour and a half, round about 1 am, Tony appeared, glass of wine in hand. He told us that he had been told that there was nobody waiting, several people had given up on him and gone home by this time. He was in a very good mood and had clearly enjoyed the gig. He took time to speak to everyone who was left. The clocks changed to British Summer Time when we got back to the hotel, so we lost an hour. A very late end to the evening, but worth it