From longtime PG fan, Lesley Mount:

Manchester, England -- a brief review

He sings -- he rides a bike. He sings -- he hangs downside-up from the lights! He sings -- he bounces around in a hamster ball! He sings - his jacket flashes! He sings - beautifully. We dance -- wildly! What a great night I had -- well worth the journey from Edinburgh to Manchester.
By now anyone reading the Hill knows most of what happens, so I"ll keep this to a few of my favourite bits.

First of all, The Blind Boys of Alabama blew me away! Such beautiful singing, and such personal warmth from them all. The audience wasn't keen to respond, but even they couldn't resist when Jimmy was led off the stage and half-way up the (very steep) steps of the arena, continuing to sing in the middle of the seating without missing a beat! Peter said, in his introduction, that he was familiar with those arguments about what time to get to the gig, and whoever had insisted on getting there early had got it right tonight, as they"d have missed a great treat if they missed the Boys.
I was in a prime position, front row of the floor area, and next to the "backstage". My section was strangely deserted - about one in four seats unoccupied (perhaps they heard I was coming?). All the more room to dance -- I fulfilled a personal ambition by joining in with the helicopter impressions during "Secret World"! The security staff were twitchy, and wouldn't let anyone from further back out of their seats, so I was on my own, but I still had fun -- my tip, make friends with the security guy beforehand, so he knows you won't do any harm, then enjoy, enjoy! The staging was brilliant, with something interesting to watch at all times, even when our hero was over the other side of the stage.

The show really rocked -- so many of these songs work brilliantly live, and make the album versions sound just a teeny bit staid afterward. The audience took a long time to warm up -- during "The Barry Williams Show" many looked startled to find themselves on camera, rather than mugging wildly as us front-rowers were doing -- but by "Growing Up" many were bouncing along with the Zorb, and "Solsbury Hill" and "Sledgehammer" got the rest up and dancing. What a pity it then had to calm down with Signal to Noise -- but what a great way to finish! Why has no-one else mentioned the sheer poetry of the staging, sound made visible in curtains of light?

The crowd was subdued, the venue wasn"t sold out, and there were a few fans at the front nearby who liked the sound of their own moronic remarks too much, but this was easily the best show I have seen. We kept the Animal Nation chorus going a bit beyond the song, though not through all the introductions -- ìthank youî, remarked Peter drily, ìleave your names at the door!î Peter seemed to be enjoying himself, judging by the maniacal grin he wore while riding that bicycle, though we were cut a little short at the end with just "In Your Eyes" and "Father,Son" at the end -- I"d hoped for "Come Talk to Me" as well, but I guess you can"t have everything!

And finally, finally - Ian, after 14 years, "In Your Eyes" still describes how I feel perfectly -- happy wedding anniversary!

Andy who saw the Manchester gig...

Hope you find this interesting for your website - I've posted it on The Full Moon website BUT yours is much better so I've tidied up the typos

Now then, where do I begin ? Well here's the set list :

1-here comes the flood
2-darkness
3-red rain
4-secret world
5-sky blue
6- downside-up
7-the Barry Williams Show
8-more than this
9-mercy street
10-diggin' in the dirt
11-growin' up
12-animal nation
13-solsbury hill
14-sledgehammer
15-signal to noise
encore one:
16-In your eyes
encore two:
19-father,son

For anyone who was there I was the guy in the grey T-shirt which read 'intelligent life is all around us '
The audience wasn't as lively as I'd have liked or PG if I may say so - it took a little persuasion and finally when PG played 'In Your Eyes' did he say "let them up"

I took my 13 year old daughter ... I thought if PG can take his daughter on tour why not me ! She was absolutely overawed ALTHOUGH her Dad embarrassed her immensely.

Anyway, for a proper concert review :

HCTF : started where 1993 left off
Darkness : still threw the audience despite having heard it many many time before
Red Rain : was carried off as per album
Secret World : I was expecting the band to 'fall away' from the stage as per the 1993 tour, nonetheless, well delivered
Sky Blue : amazing track on CD BUT live absolutely brilliant with the Blind Boys of Alabama performing par excellence ....if you're going to B'ham or Wembley DO NOT MISS THE SUPPORT ACT it is them - PG comes on and introduces them .. if you stay in the bar or a late it's your loss !
Downside Up : see Dad and daughter traversing around the stage - daughter catching up with Dad - it must be his age !
TBWS : I was curious as to how this would translate live BUT was mightily
impressed - PG let loose with a camera ... be prepared to wave and get yer
mugshot on the BIG screen
More Than This : check out the image projection on the 'globe' !
Mercy Street : an acapella intro - reminded me of Excuse Me [pg 1] -
launching into the song will the band transported round the stage for all to see
Digging In The Dirt : a good 'un - not brilliant - but good
Growing Up : the next single (release date 30/6/03) - excellent ... look out for the Zorb Ball - well you can't miss it - I dare you not to be impressed
Animal Nation : taken from the soundtrack to 'The Wild Thornberrys' kiddies TV programme and detailing PG's work and contact with bonobo apes - thanks to the primate in the audience who interrupted PG's story telling ..brilliant !
Solsbury Hill : after a round robin introduction of the band members - straight into a classic - with PG bicycling round the stage
Sledgehammer : audience starting to get twitchy and showing signs of really wanting to dance - PG dons 'light jacket' with little man in orange chasing close behind with power lead
Signal To Noise : bringing things back to a 'steady state' with various binary signals transposed on the centre stage screen

In Your Eyes : cue to Gabriel/N'Dour dance routine .. by this time I'm out of my seat and dancing opposite Ms Melanie Gabriel - 'security staff' are non too pleased BUT hey ! I paid £40 and I want to dance ! PG says' let them come up' which appears an invite for the rest of the floor audience to finally get up off their arses and 'do their thing'

Father,Son : PG returns and explains that this song is about getting to know your Dad - or in his case his Dad - a week spent with his Dad and a yoga instructor (not for PG but his Dad - it appears he's been 'standing on his head' for the last 10 years)
Anyway, an emotional song which has various people responding in various ways
[Note : I lost my father just over a month ago and this song together with I Grieve are a personal choice]

END OF GIG

BBOA on stage 1930 - 2010
PG on stage 2030 - 2100

Don't miss the start - enjoy the middle - the end seems to come around so quickly ... not like the last 10 years