This unofficial site features his current and recent events and tours
Review of Tony Hadley 'By Request' - St Albans - 13th April 2006
The 'By Request' tour
is in its fourth week and sixth show overall, this is the fourth time I have
seen the tour and I just love the concept of the audience picking the songs.
I haven't had a request read out yet, but there is still time. St Albans
wasn't on my list of gigs I was going to go to, but as it was the Easter
holidays, I decided to take extra time off work and take my youngest
daughter with me. I hadn't realised how easy St Albans was to get to from
London, only a 25 minute train journey.
The set started as usual with Tony's musical journey, the difference from Bolton is that 'Price of Love' has been added to the first half set. Tony explained why he included 'Young Girl', he mentions as a 14 year old when he first sang it at the Pontins holiday camp, he had no idea what the song was saying, he thought it was a nice tune, but now realises that the lyrics are about a man who is with a girl who is much to young for him.
Too soon the first half is over and time for a chat with friends. The second half starts with Tony's choice 'Who Are You?'. If Wolverhampton was 'Rock' night the St Albans is 'Spandau' night. The first five requests are Spandau songs. Tony explained afterwards that the box was full of Spandau requests. He ended the run of Spandau songs with Duran Duran's Rio. Although I had a fourth row seat (booking late was the problem) I managed to get to the front and stand by the stage in the second half. Although not on the set list, the encore was 'Gold' and 'Hey Jealousy'.
Another gig over, Tony gave a great performance. It was a nice big stage so the bar had a good place and was full of beer and Jack Daniels which both John and Tony helped themselves to during the show. An addition to the stage were two fireside chairs which looked like they had been stolen from somebody's Granny, Phil Williams made good use of the one on his side!
Around to the stage door to wait for Tony, it is good that the weather is getting warmer, but still a chilly wait for Tony. His mum, sister and brother-in-law had been at the concert, so Tony took a little longer to appear, but once he had, took time to speak to everyone waiting. Also spoke to Richie and Phil Williams.
Denise 14/4/06