From the moment he came on stage with The Boy Is Bad to the final
song Let's Do It in the Road, he was on top form. Looking spiffy in
the black satin shirt with the sparkly embroidered cuffs and collar
(no waistcoats this time) and a black cowboy hat at the start (which
fitted him perfectly) he led a fast paced show with one song leading
straight to into the next, that lasted a good two hours.

Yes. his voice is in great shape .. he seems to have a confidence in
it that's lovely to see again.

Sooo ...

He bursts on with The Boy Is Bad .. he's back and crackling with
energy .. and suddenly I don't feel the cold and fine rain because
I'm seeing Meat lighting up a stage again, and all's well with the
world :) He moves swiftly into Break It! (I can see the inflatables
waiting, but they aren't destined for this number) .. and then into
Frying Pan .. Yes, his voice is clear and strong, and rings out into
the rather gloomy night as he goes "Fire! Fire! Fire!" .. and the
stage is filled with sound and light, and he seems to be on fire as
the show gathers in pace.

And now the insistent opening bars of Lemon start pounding, and I'm
swept away by Meat, Patti, CC and the band as this heavy number rocks
the park.

Bad For Good follows .. Meat has so much made this his own since he
started it on the 3 Bats tour, and tonight is no different. Vocally I
see it as a tough song and he seems so much more confident with it ..
yes, this boy is bad for good .. which seems to be the theme from the
opening song. I'm of course focused on Meat, but I'm aware that the
show seems very fresh and different .. the arrangements are fresh,
the band on top form, and Patti's presence adds another huge layer of
enjoyment as she and Meat work in that seamless and intuitive way
they have developed over the years ..

And now Meat's gone to the back of the stage to retrieve a big blue
cooler .. and dons a red tartan sleeveless hunting type weskit and a
cap .. peak forward? peak back? he tries it out .. and makes us laugh
as he pulls faces .. and we're off into Dead Ringer .. he chugs a
beer .. goes over to Patti and CC and does some stuff with shaking
the bottles and blowing the foam off the top like the perfect gent ..
lol ... This is a great paced duet with Patti .. followed by 45
seconds of Ecstasy with CC .. and then Patti blows the stage and the
audience with a fantastic rendition of Bible and a Beer ..

And now I can hear the opening bars of Paradise .. Meat has left the
stage and comes striding out in the 1970s bib and jacket .. and the
wig! .. Hey if it cost £27 he's not going to waste it eh? Paradise is
memorable .. and Patti's costume a wonderful prop dress of bright
fuschia .. satin top encrusted with sparkles, and a multi-layered
skirt of chiffon which gives a hint of what is to come .. lol Because
when we get to the make-out scene Meat finds he can unwind it .. and
with many glances to us of the "I can't believe how lucky I am!!"
variety, he runs round and round her like a little schoolboy, peeling
the skirt away :)

Took the Words is another new staging .. just Mark on the piano as
the band have left the stage briefly, and Meat, Patti and CC sing the
song, but keep stopping to see if we can carry it .. with Meat
encouraging us with outstretched arms .. Come on .. we can do it ..

The opening bars of AFL bring a huge roar from the crowd .. Meat is
magnificent .. and when Patti comes out the audience go mad ..

And suddenly I hear the beginning of Bat .. and I wonder where has
the time gone? Everyone surges forward and as ever the venue echoes
to the roar of thousands of us singing Meat's signature song along
with him ..

They don't leave the stage but move swiftly into Rock and Roll
Dreams .. and despite the punishing pace of the show, Meat's voice
rings out those notes like a bell .. and then our final "encore"
songs .. Roadhouse Blues and Let's Do It in the Road .. Absolutely
fabulous rocking and up-beat songs to have us on our feet singing our
hearts out too .. and Patti looks just SO cute in a long black
flowing coat and a big black top hat over those tumbling black
curls ..

Meat thanks us .. tells us to never ever stop rocking .. He's said a
couple of times it's a good thing that it isn't cold or wet .. lol ..
and of course said that if it had been any hotter he'd have had to
take off all his clothes .. and that was something we'd all been
saved from :)

And as he runs from the stage, followed by the band, and the lights
come brighter on stage and crew start to pack up, I realise once
again it's over .. the stage seems so much emptier than it did before
he started .. and suddenly I can feel the rain again ..

But for that wonderful two hours time stood still .. the magic was
woven again .. there was nothing in that space except the sound, the
light, the spectacle .. it was filled with that rock that only he
produces with such a gifted pair of singers and marvellous band ..
they all seemed to be having a ball as were we .. He's done his stuff
again .. worked and sung his ass off .. and we were transported to
that better place ..

Yes .. the Boy is not only Bad ..

He's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The light and distance between us and the stage rather defeated my camera, but the pics I managed to get are on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2212746...7605865062642/

Caryl