This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley 'By Request' - Bolton - 1st April 2006
Another
weekend and the 'By Request' tour is in Bolton. Bolton isn't exactly local
for me but a friend asks if I want to go and I decide to fly to Manchester
instead of sitting on a train for hours, only problem with flying is that it got
to Manchester before the shops were open and I had to get up at a hideously
early hour (reminder to self - write to airline and ask why flight on a weekend
is so early!). Once the shops were open I spent a few hours browsing and
then made my way to Bolton for a couple of hours sleep. Refreshed and
ready to go, I met up with my friend and we made our way down into Bolton for a
pre-gig drink and bite to eat and also to check out where the stage door was.
This time I decided to get a programme before the show, as previously I had tried to get one at the end and by the time I had got the merchandise stall, they had packed up. Time to go to our seats - 5th row but right in the middle, great view of Tony and my best view of John so far on this tour.
As the first half is his musical journey, I was thinking that it would be the same as Aylesbury and Wolverhampton, but 'Fever' was dropped and 'Into The Great Wide Open' was added. This is a lovely song and Tony said he had first heard it when he was living in Los Angeles and it was a great song to listen to going along the highway in your car with the top down.
Too soon the first half was over and it was time for the 'By Request' part of the evening. Bolton was not 'rock' night like Wolverhampton but a good mix of songs are requested and two people I know get their requests chosen. The encore is not on the set list, but was 'True', 'Round and Round' and the show was finished off in high octane style with 'Hey Jealousy'.
The Albert Halls in Bolton is a good venue, good views, sensible stewards, all in all, I would go back there. It was a great gig, on a par with Wolverhampton. Show over and time to head around to the stage door, chat to friends. Luckily we were able to wait in a covered foyer, so it wasn't as cold and wet as it may have been. Around midnight, Tony appeared, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, cap and flip flops. Tony took his time to speak to everyone waiting, we were amongst the last to leave. All in all a great end to a great evening.
Denise 3/4/06