Simply Buzzing

I'm still buzzing from our encounter with Simply Red last weekend. I can't get the songs out of my head & I would do anything (well nearly anything) to do it all again. The last time I felt that way was the first time I went to the theatre. I had surprised Andrew with 2 tickets to see Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End. For weeks after, the hairs would stand up on the back of our neck's when we heard the music from the show. So just to preserve the memory of Mick singing, I've shamelessly copied this from our local rag, the IWCP ...

Take it as read, no holding back the tears as Hucknall & Anastacia team up for Sir Bobby Robson tribute. From the first tantalising notes of It's Only Love, the 10,000-strong audience at Osborne House knew they were in for a treat with Simply Red. For fans of flame haired Mick Hucknall, it was a night to live long in the memory as they played all their greatest hits in a jam-packed, two hour set. And the highlight for many was the surprise duet with Anastacia, who played the venue the previous night. Hucknall, dedicating the duet to the late football ledgend Sir Bobby Robson who had died two days earlier after a long battle against cancer - and the big-voiced American, belted out Holding Back the Years, with such passion, it made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.There was a brilliant mix of upbeat & slow songs, each holding the attention of a enthusiastic crowd who sang and danced the night away and earned a "We are not worthy" chant from Hucknall at the end of the night.

Among the hits were A New Flame, Thrill Me, Your Mirror, Fairground, Sunrise, Night Nurse & For Your Babies. A cover of the Hollies The Air That I Breathe sent the crowd into raptures but the four-song encore, really sealed a great night. The band broke straight into Stars, leading to Money's Too Tight To Mention & Something Got Me Started, before finishing off with If You Don't Know Me By Now.

Earlier, scheduled support act Alain Clark was replaced by Starsailor singer James Walsh, who performed a 30 minute accoustic set of his band's best-known hits, after local singer Luke White performed a short set with his band.

But Sunday night belonged to Simply Red who were, if you pardon the cliche, simply awesome.