Paul Carrack

Paul Carrack

The Lowry, 4 February 2012

This is music for those who are wont sometimes to pet animals backwards, albeit when no one’s watching.

Paul Carrack’s voice is the lethal weapon, but he’s adept at playing other instruments too: guitar, keyboards, a weird flute-like contraption, perhaps of his own invention…  And, of course, he writes songs too.

Here he sang some of his old and new songs, covering some classics an’ all.  It’s probable that ‘The Living Years‘ will always be his signature tune, but the pure funk of ‘Better than Nothing’ was the highlight of the concert for me.  (There’s a version of that song here.)  And ‘Over My Shoulder’ always sounds great.

That’s a mean, lean band Carrack has behind him by the way, their myriad talents ably complementing his own.

Paul Carrack is currently touring throughout the UK, details here.

 

 

Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell

The Lowry, 21 October 2011

The old master is still going strong.

He played his famous hits and some little known songs, paying due credit along the way to Jimmy Webb, songwriter extraordinaire.  We got the chance to sing along to ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ and clapped along to others.

There was a humility and gratitude to the man, evident above all in the music; in his performance of ‘Amazing Grace’, say.  His vitality and enjoyment of life was there for all to see, and his daughter’s watchful care and occasional gentle reminders were touching.

Every person stood up and applauded him at the end.  This is a literal, wholly factual statement.  Every person, without exception.  Let us rejoice that here is one extraordinary musician whose gifts are fully appreciated in his lifetime.

Glen Campbell is touring the UK at the minute, details here.