Band:
Bill Wyman, bass, voc
Terry Taylor, git, voc
Albert Lee, git, voc
Mike Sanchez, key, voc
Beverley Skeete, voc
Nick Payn, horns
Frank Mead, horns, perc., harmonica
Graham Broad, drums
Special guests:
Eddie Floyd, voc
Ronnie Wood, git, voc.
Martin Taylor, git
Ian Siegal (compère)
My review:
After picking up my ticket at the box office I found out that my seat was rather poor. Luckily the steward agreed to moving to another one which was closer to the stage and provided a better view.
Ian Siegal opened and did a good job. Rhythm Kings started their set with "I got a woman", then Albert did "Jump, Jive and Wail". I can't remember the order of the songs. Beverley had a bad cold and drank lots of water, nevertheless she did "Kiddio" in a great way. The set list included "Jitterbug Boogie", "Six days on the Road", "Race with the devil". Chris Stainton was playing the organ, Georgie Fame was not with the band. Then the first surprise guest came on, Martin Taylor. He did some stuff of his own, very jazzy, people around me (Swedish I thought) were special fans and clapped their hands like mad. Albert also applauded as did the other band members.
Second surprise guest was Ronnie Wood and the crowd went wild ! Wearing funny moon boots, he joked around with Bill and obviously enjoyed playing with his old band mate. Then Eddie Floyd did "Stagger Lee" and another song which escaped me. Bill and Albert did "You never can tell" and Ronnie joined having a fun time. In the very brief interval I dashed to get me a tour programme.
Rumour had it that - among other celebrities - Charlie Watts was in the audience, in fact he was. Someone spotted him later in a car taking him away.
Bill came on and introduced the band members one by one. Then they did "Taxman" as a tribute to George Harrison, "I am a man of constant sorrow", "Hit the Road Jack" and "Fever" but I missed "Real Wild Child" and "Chicken Shack Boogie" which were not on the list. "Flatfoot Sam" was brilliant, Frank did his funny moves! Mike encouraged everybody to stand up and dance to the music which most people did. I made my way to the front for some better photos. Eddie Floyd came on again, and the great finale included Ronnie and Martin Taylor. Mike did his "Secret" fooling around in his usual way, getting a couple of girls onstage to dance. The band did not leave the stage and played the encore right away.
Albert and Martin did their famous "2 men on one guitar" act during "Tear it up" which was a killer. When it was over, and I went over to the CD stall and bought me a Bootleg Kings CD, hoping to get it signed. After a while Ronnie and Jo Wood came out, Ronnie was immediately surrounded by a crowd. Jo wanted to direct him straight into the waiting limousine, but he didn't disappoint his fans and patiently signed some old vinyls and posed for a photo taken with 2 guys standing next to me. Eventually he was rushed into the limo and off he went. I wish I had asked him for his autograph but didn't dare, watching the scene from so close was thrilling enough and I completely forgot to take a photo!
Later I had a few words with Albert, then Bill, Tony, Mike and the others came out, and I was lucky to get my CD signed by some of the band members.
Late but not too late, I found a review by Stephanie Thorburn, freelance music writer,
which I'm posting here:
" 'Just For A Thrill' definitely captures the atmosphere of the Rhythm Kings musical outing to one of London's most classical haunts, the Royal Festival Hall last Thursday. The evening was however much more than just a promotional for Bill Wyman's latest offering on CD, because it proved to be a significant night for the events diaries of Stones connoisseurs too. Blessed with a whole front row to myself below the gods of the artists' entrance and royal boxes, this was a gig delivered from the heart of the crème de la crème of the industry.
Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood were in full force from the curtain call; Charlie to spectate and Ronnie to fill the stage with his ever- present vibrance, dressed in curiously gentile moon boots and a yellow psychedelic jumper. This huge rock n' roll family traced their roots adeptly with Ron jamming on ‘Soul Man’, ‘634-5789’, ‘You Never Can Tell’, ‘Flat Foot Sam’, & putting the night to bed with the fitting ‘Knock on Wood’, ‘Tearing It Up’ to a finale with Albert Lee.
As on the recent album, George Harrison's ‘Tax Man’ was celebrated with a suitably satirical groove, and Ray Charles was also a fitting subject for a musical toast and tribute. The set saw some tremendous demonstrations of versatility and evergreen talent not only from Ron, but his sparring partner Mr Albert Lee. A further highlight was the sublime, refined soloing of Martin Taylor MBE, whose spirit is certainly still with music of Django Reinhardt. Top of the set however was the haunting vocal prowess of Beverley Skeete, who simply left a spell on us all..
As I made my way backstage to the after show activities, I was lead down a maze of corridors and rooms towards a true hobbit's den. After a little hiking, I was greeted by the surrealism of Ron Wood retreating, not yet tired, just a little emotional & simply happy to have played his cute white boots off throughout the best part of both sets. Bill remains every bit the cool ambassador of his profession, unphased by the accolades that were directed his way, he still found the courtesy to deliver poses for magazine promotionals and a suitable army of autographs for an assembled faithful of fans.
Definitely the highlight of the party however, was when Jeff Beck literally appeared as an apparition, congratulating Ron on a great show, still partners in crime and getting on like a house on fire- inseparable conversationalists. A positive parting blow before leaving came from Albert Lee when asked about the prospects for the continuation of the Rhythm Kings family; all seems optimistic enough in view of some strategic, blasting shows, carefully placed into the future...."
which I'm posting here:
" 'Just For A Thrill' definitely captures the atmosphere of the Rhythm Kings musical outing to one of London's most classical haunts, the Royal Festival Hall last Thursday. The evening was however much more than just a promotional for Bill Wyman's latest offering on CD, because it proved to be a significant night for the events diaries of Stones connoisseurs too. Blessed with a whole front row to myself below the gods of the artists' entrance and royal boxes, this was a gig delivered from the heart of the crème de la crème of the industry.
Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood were in full force from the curtain call; Charlie to spectate and Ronnie to fill the stage with his ever- present vibrance, dressed in curiously gentile moon boots and a yellow psychedelic jumper. This huge rock n' roll family traced their roots adeptly with Ron jamming on ‘Soul Man’, ‘634-5789’, ‘You Never Can Tell’, ‘Flat Foot Sam’, & putting the night to bed with the fitting ‘Knock on Wood’, ‘Tearing It Up’ to a finale with Albert Lee.
As on the recent album, George Harrison's ‘Tax Man’ was celebrated with a suitably satirical groove, and Ray Charles was also a fitting subject for a musical toast and tribute. The set saw some tremendous demonstrations of versatility and evergreen talent not only from Ron, but his sparring partner Mr Albert Lee. A further highlight was the sublime, refined soloing of Martin Taylor MBE, whose spirit is certainly still with music of Django Reinhardt. Top of the set however was the haunting vocal prowess of Beverley Skeete, who simply left a spell on us all..
As I made my way backstage to the after show activities, I was lead down a maze of corridors and rooms towards a true hobbit's den. After a little hiking, I was greeted by the surrealism of Ron Wood retreating, not yet tired, just a little emotional & simply happy to have played his cute white boots off throughout the best part of both sets. Bill remains every bit the cool ambassador of his profession, unphased by the accolades that were directed his way, he still found the courtesy to deliver poses for magazine promotionals and a suitable army of autographs for an assembled faithful of fans.
Definitely the highlight of the party however, was when Jeff Beck literally appeared as an apparition, congratulating Ron on a great show, still partners in crime and getting on like a house on fire- inseparable conversationalists. A positive parting blow before leaving came from Albert Lee when asked about the prospects for the continuation of the Rhythm Kings family; all seems optimistic enough in view of some strategic, blasting shows, carefully placed into the future...."
