This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony
Hadley -The Sage, Gateshead -
1st December 2008
This was the last of the four gigs, time has gone so quickly and it didn't feel like a week since I started this journey. After arriving home on the train on Friday afternoon, I had a fairly normal weekend and it was time to go back to the airport on Sunday evening to catch the flight to Newcastle. I had been due to travel at Monday lunchtime and had booked that flight, but Flybe decided to cancel that flight, so my only choice was to go Sunday evening. I'd been to Newcastle airport twice before on my Tony travels, so knew it was an easy Metro trip into Newcastle. I arrived at the hotel in time for a slightly early night, but as it was the same chain of hotels that I had stayed in twice in the previous week
déjà vu set in.
My friends arrived on an early flight and met me for breakfast, we then did a bit of shopping and found the Carling Academy where Martin Fry was playing that night. After lunch we decided to explore the futuristic looking Sage theatre and found there was a viewing gallery and were able to watch the sound check.
It was soon time for the show to start and we made our way to our front row seats. An excellent view on the left hand side. Kelbie were up first, my fourth time of seeing them, I could hear them much more clearly this time and I think they have got better, although the lead singer still hasn't learnt to do up his boots!
After the interval it was time for Tony and the band to come on. I was happy that I was able to be in Gateshead, but a bit sad that it was the last of the short tour.
Of course I knew what was coming, the song choices weren't changed at all for these shows. Tony had a chest cold, but you wouldn't have realised when you heard him hitting the notes in the Queen megamix and other songs.
As it had turned into December, I was feeling a bit more Christmassy. Tony loves Christmas, but doesn't like his relatives trying to organise him too early and mentioned this.
With 'Santa Claus is coming to town', I knew it was the end of the show and no more Tony for now.
We stayed in the venue as long as possible and then it was round to the stage door to wait for Tony and say goodbye and wish him a Happy Christmas. As we made our way back to the hotel, we saw the tour bus leave for its long journey back to London.
It snowed overnight (luckily not whilst we were waiting) and I walked back to the station with a fair covering of snow on the pavements and past Newcastle Cathedral which looked like a scene off of a Christmas card. I was back home to rain by mid afternoon.
I really enjoyed these shows, each one I liked for a different reason. It was great to see Tony but also to meet up with my friends and have a good time.
Denise