Classic Rock Society Review
Oliver Wakeman with Paul Manzi
The Herringthorpe, Rotherham. 4th November 2007
Oliver Wakeman made a welcome return for a short (and spectacular
set) with superb vocalist/guitarist Paul Manzi (who thankfully
had no pot plant back related injuries this time) performing a
potted 'best of' starting with Glimmer of Light from the Jabberwocky
album.
Understandably Oliver's latest album, the brilliant Mother's Ruin,
dominated the set starting with the title track, Walk Away and
then, for me, the highlight of an outstanding set, the moving
and beautiful If you're Leaving (I liked it so much I had to buy
the album).
We were also treated to the new Busy Going No-Where (which Oliver
had finished arranging at about half three on the day). A Blinding
set and the large audience who were there quite early were very
appreciative. Can't wait for Oliver and full band to return.
James R turner
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Submitted Review
Oliver Wakeman with Paul Manzi
The Herringthorpe, Rotherham. 4th November 2007
When I was a young boy I was told that “All good things come to
those who wait”.
Last Saturday night (4th November) the faithful throng of the
CRS who had gathered for “Martin’s Freebee night out” and who
had waited for the return of Oliver together with Paul Manzi got
their just rewards. It’s well known why Paul couldn’t join the
rest of the band at Oliver’s last appearance for the CRS and both
Oliver and Paul wanted to return to the CRS as soon as Paul had
fully recovered.
Oliver and Paul opened up the evening with a half hour of pure
magic.
Oliver had brought along his trusty Yamaha Piano and Paul provided
the vocals and acoustic guitar accompaniment.
The set was opened with a shortened version of “GLIMMER OF LIGHT”
from the Jabberwocky album and this was followed by IF YOU’RE
LEAVING, the first of three tracks from Mother’s Ruin. The next
track was my daughter Fiona’s favourite song from The Hound of
the Baskervilles album PICTURE OF A LADY.
Oliver explained that the next piece of music was something of
an experiment and that he wasn’t sure at first if he should include
it in the set or not, but then he had decided to try it anyway
and we where treated to what could best be described as a “Bluesy
swing type” song called BUSY GOING NOWHERE. Now I don’t admit
to being a particular lover of Blues, but after listening to this
song I have to admit it was fantastic and I was swept away with
it. I hope that this song will get included in a future album
at some point and that Oliver can spend some more time exploring
this particular genre of music.
Anyway back to the performance, and the next track was the second
from the Mother’s Ruin album the title track MOTHER’S RUIN. After
this the boys ended their set with the third track of the evening
from Mother’s Ruin WALK AWAY.
Like I said at the beginning of this review, “All good things
come to those who wait” and this evening proved this old proverb
true. I hope that we will be able to see a lot more of this kind
of performance from Oliver and Paul in the future as I think the
format worked very well. Also Im looking forward to the new year
when Oliver will return to the CRS with his full band.
Thanks Guy’s for an enjoyable show and thanks also to Martin Hudson
and the CRS.
Phil Hudson
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Submitted Review
The Boardwalk, Sheffield. 22nd July 2006
Before I try to describe Oliver’s gig at Sheffield’s Boardwalk
last Saturday night, picture if you will, the following scenario;
Over the last number of years you have got yourself a band of
talented musicians who have gelled and work together very well,
they rehearse and rehearse until you have a tight band. You are
successful in the studio and have released some excellent product.
As a live band, all the hard work has paid off and you have a
good reputation to live up to. You are invited to Headline a gig
for the Classic Rock Society in Sheffield to perform a full line
up out and out Rock concert. You work out a set list for the concert
and you practice and rehearse over and over for a number of weeks
and everything is looking good for the concert on the Saturday
night.
Friday afternoon you get a call from your vocalist saying he's
in agony with his back and not sure if he can do the show. you
agree to talk in the morning to see if he's ok....
But then at 9am on the morning of the gig; you get a phone call
from your vocalist saying that he is lying on the floor in absolute
agony brought on by a trapped sciatic nerve, He says “I’m sorry
mate but I can’t make the gig”.
You have just lost your band’s front man and in 12hrs time and
hundreds of miles away from home, you are expected on stage!
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I have spent a few hours today (Sunday 23rd July) talking to various
friends and fellow musicians and I have told them of this very
scenario. Every one of them gave me the same answer
“I’D CANCEL THE GIG”!!!
Thank God that none of them has the name of Oliver Wakeman. For
what I’ve just relayed isn’t some nightmare or tale of fiction.
This is for real and Oliver’s nightmare had begun.....
Many frantic phone calls then took place and Oliver had spoken
to the rest of the band and agreed that they could perform an
"instrumental evening of entertainment" instead.
Time was against the guys but true professionalism, talent and
wanting to please the fans drove them on.
Oliver racked his brain and after hours of deliberating came up
with a revised set list that could be played without a vocalist.
This was drawn mainly from the Heaven’s Isle and Three Ages Of
Magick albums. The only problem was, there would be precious little
time for the guys to learn and rehearse the new set list.
So the long journey to Sheffield was made and even the weather
tried to put a dampener on the evening when the guys arrived.
Sheffield was under a fierce thunderstorm and torrential rain.
Once in the venue, it was into a back room and “let’s try and
work out how we can do this”. And hours of hard work were spent
by the band right up to 7 pm (the doors were open to the public
at 7:30pm) then onto the stage to set up the gear and a quick
sound check.
Oliver explained to Martin Hudson what had happened with Paul
Manzi (his vocalist). It was agreed to let Ashtar (who were originally
supporting Oliver and his band) to take over as the Headline act
and Oliver would take the second slot on the bill.
The gig kicked off with an acoustic set from a guitarist called
Marc Atkinson, who treated us to some nice songs with quite a
lot of fierce strumming involved. I was quite relieved that he
still had all of his fingers left when he finished.
Then it was time for Oliver to take to the stage. He explained
to everyone what had happened and the changes that had been made
to the evening’s proceedings. Everyone joined with Oliver in wishing
Paul Manzi a speedy recovery from his very painful back. Get well
soon Paul!
Oliver opened up with a solo piano piece called A MAYFAIR KISS
which was really nice to hear and then Oliver was joined on stage
by Dave Mark Pearce who accompanied him for THE FORGOTTEN KING
from the 3 AGES OF MAGICK album. The audience were happy and enjoying
the music.
Oliver then did another solo piece called A SONG FOR LEE for his
wife who was at home babysitting their young son Arthur.
The rest of the band came on stage to join Oliver for a medley
taken from Oliver's Heaven’s Isle album and then ALONE AT LAST
also from the same album. This was the first time this piece had
ever been performed live!
Afterwards Oliver played another solo piece from The 3 AGES OF
MAGICK album called LUTEY AND THE MERMAID of which Oliver said
there was a nice story to tell explaining who Lutey was but it
would take ages to tell…. Maybe it’ll get told one day?
Then things got really hot when the band came back on stage for
THE ENCHANTER from The 3 AGES OF MAGICK album.
Remember that this was a completely new set list and the band
had spent weeks rehearsing a totally different set altogether,
with only a few hours for this gig. So inevitably there was the
odd bit of “individual spontaneous improvisation” that occurred.
Yes, for any fellow musicians reading this, you will understand
exactly what that means. For everyone else, it’s when one or more
members of the band momentarily looses their place in the song.
So it did upset me when I overheard someone behind me say to his
friend, “that’s not how it’s played on the album, they’ve cocked
it up”. Well pardon me sunshine, but this is live music here.
If you want to listen to a perfect note for note replay of the
original recording, stay at home and stare at a blank wall with
you’re your headphones on listing to a CD, but please don’t criticize
the performers for trying their hardest under difficult circumstances.
Grumpy Old Man rant over now, I’ve got down of my soapbox, back
to the gig.
Oliver then said he “wanted to include a track off the MOTHER’S
RUIN album, but which one to choose under tonight’s circumstances”.
“So I’ve chosen the longest track off the album, all 11 minutes
of it, its WALL OF WATER and tonight was to be the first time
this track had been played live”. This song had its slight spontaneous
variations from the original version, but that said, I think the
guys deserve all praise and applause for putting their hearts
into it.
The slot was ended with THREE BROKEN THREADS from THE HOUND OF
THE BASKERVILLES album which included a stunning drum solo from
Dave Wagstaffe followed by a piece referred to in the band as
the Wakeman boogie which Oliver performed with his father at the
Mother's Ruin launch concert last year but this time with Dave
Pearce soloing against Oliver!
All things being considered, what Oliver and the guys in the band
pulled off last night was nothing short of a fantastic show all
round.
Like I said at the beginning, all of the people I have spoken
to today would have cancelled the gig, had it been them instead.
But not Oliver Wakeman.
Oliver went to great lengths many times during the gig to praise
the guys in his band for their hard work and professionalism in
putting the show on. Well, I personally think that praise and
thanks should also go to Oliver for his hard work and professionalism
in putting together (at the last minute) a superb and entertaining
show.
The evening was rounded off with a CRS favourite all the way from
Brazil, the band Ashtar. They treated us to an hour of Rock meets
Celtic fusion, with tin whistles, a violin, a bodrahn and the
usual synth, lead, bass and rhythm guitars and drummer. A sort
of Van Hallen meets Clannad if you will. Any way, they were an
entertaining band to watch.
Thanks again to Oliver, Dave P, Paul and Dave W for a superb gig
and again, get well soon to Paul M.
Phil Hudson
'Rock Society Magazine' Review of the above show.
Ashtar, Oliver Wakeman Band & Marc Atkinson
Sheffield, Boardwalk 22nd July 2006
Marc Atkinosn has not played for the CRS for a while so it was
good to see him again, starting off with Wonderland a song from
his great previous solo album. With just an acoustic guitar and
his superb voice the crowd were soon drawn into his music and
words which lays Marc’s personality open for everybody to see.
Having almost completed his new album, which has Iain Jennings
on keyboards, the rest of the set featured stripped down versions
of the songs with Where Were You reflecting the guilt felt after
the Indonesian Tsunami. Finishing off with a powerful version
of 20th Century Boy showing Marc can rock it up too.
Up next was Oliver Wakeman Band who were originally headlining
the night, but the band singer Paul Manzi was unable to sing due
to a bad back injury. This immobilised him causing him to have
to lay on the floor, so singing was totally out of the question.
After frantic rehearsals and set changes some new versions of
songs were compiled for the night starting with A Mayfair Kiss
a solo piece from Oliver which no doubt warmed his fingers up.
Guitarist David Mark Pearce joined Oliver on stage for The Forgotten
King from The 3 Ages Of Magic album. Paul Brown and Dave Wagstaffe
completed the line up on stage for a medley from Heaven’s Isle.
Despite being without vocalist Paul the whole band was determined
to perform which shows their commitment to their fans and the
CRS, how many other ‘popular’ bands would have taken the easy
way out and cancelled? An instrumental version of Wall Of Water
followed, with Three Broken Threads ending a great set to well
deserved applause.
This was Ashtar’s third visit to the CRS and was part of their
European tour. It started out with Oswaldo Valasco on violin and
Roberto Da Goulda on keyboards playing the intro before the heavy
Oblivious Scars had kilted bass player Fabio Guilherme disappearing
behind his hair. Soaring softened things a little with Eduardo
Capella’s guitar and Fernanda’s lovely voice, then a new song
called Launched New Life Asylum gave a taster to the next album.
Children Of The Mist was followed by Ashes Are Burning.
An Asian feel was added with Rakim, a song by Dead Can Dance before
In Lament Cries The Night with a new ending and Daniel Dobbin
pounding away on his drums over the guitar feedback. Urantia and
then Day Dreaming Past were played as an encore and a great way
to end the night with Luiz Garcia making great use of a repeat
effect on his guitar.
Three very different styles of music, there is something for everybody
at CRS gigs.
Alistair Flynn
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'Rock Society Magazine' Review
OLIVER WAKEMAN BAND & Infusion
The Boardwalk, Sheffield, 30th April 2005
This was one of those magical gigs that fully lived up to its
billing. First on stage tonight were the brilliant Infusion (www.db-infusion.co.uk).
Support bands often get a raw deal, and often have to put up with
people laughing, shouting, buying drinks and generally not paying
them attention - but not tonight. From their lively opening piece
Yo-Yo, this exciting jazz/rock/fusion outfit had the crowd spellbound,
and by the end of their set were getting rapturous applause.
Gonzalo Carrera is well-known to the CRS, having played with almost
as many bands as Martin Hudson has had birthdays (sorry, couldn’t
resist that!). He’s a great guy, and it is a mark of his talent
as a keyboard player that tonight he was no way overshadowed by
Oliver. Listening to his excellent work on a manic Flight Of The
Bumblebee (which works really well given the fusion treatment)
was a pleasure. His mate Danny Berdichevsky is equally talented
on the guitar and contributed some breathtaking playing, his flamenco
influences surfacing on the enchanting Jerusalem; to hear these
two maestros interacting on pieces like Little Drops Of Rain (which
they dedicated to percussionist Steve, who sadly died in a car
crash) and Dark and Blue made this a memorable evening for me
and, I’ll bet, many others. They were offered fine support by
the excellent Oli Usinskie on drums and the intricate bass-work
of Rob Statham, and went down a storm with the crowd - they must
be one of the most talented bands ever to have played a support
slot for the CRS: let’s hope we see them headlining one day!
With such a fabulous act to follow, Oliver Wakeman and his band
rose to the occasion beautifully and turned in a great performance,
following on from their impressive show at Herringthorpe last
autumn. Here, they got off to a nice raunchy start with Don’t
Come Running, a track from their new album Mother’s Ruin, which
immediately gave the popular Paul Manzi the chance to display
his impressive vocal power, before a powerful sequence from The
Hound Of The Baskervilles - the dramatic Shadows Of Fate followed
by At Home In The Mire. This band are beginning to gel beautifully:
as a keyboard player Mr Wakeman Junior is very much a chip off
the old block, possessing both the talent and the scope of his
father, while his affable personality is evident both in his repartee
with the band and with the audience.
The band themselves, as well as being extremely talented, are
beginning to show their stage persona, with Paul Manzi in particular
bouncing off Oliver nicely (not literally!) Jabberwocky’s Dangerous
World was next up, followed by another Mother’s Ruin track, In
The Movies which slowed things down a little, before another Jabberwocky
song, Burgundy Rose, originally sung, I’m told, by Bob Catley
was handled with aplomb by Mr Manzi. Not to be outdone, guitarist
David Mark Pierce shone on the next two tracks, Run For Your Life
and the instrumental Three Broken Threads, and also on the beautiful
The Forgotten King, originally performed by Steve Howe, but sounding
great here. Next it was the turn of Oliver to star in what was
for me the highlight of the set: the gorgeous Heaven’ s Isle medley,
where his playing was full of touch, sensitivity and feeling.
With another Hound.track, the stately Picture Of A Lady followed
by The View From Here, originally written for a female vocal but
beautifully sung by Paul, completing a stunning mid-section, the
latter third of the set brought things to a great climax: The
Agent being a Rick-style epic; Glimmer Of Light, a lovely ballad
originally sung by Tracey Hitchings but again, well sung here;
and rockier tracks like Calling For You and the clap-along Walk
Away, before the excellent encore Coming To Town, another rocker
with a soaring vocal from Paul rounded off an all-round fabulous
night. Both bands here did themselves proud, making this the equal
of any gig we’ve had at the CRS recently. The size of the crowd
was the only disappointment - it’s just a pity that more people
couldn’t make the effort to turn up for this, because by staying
away many missed out on an absolute privilege: those that did
attend will know what I mean.
Dave Winstanley
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'Rock Society Magazine' Review
OLIVER WAKEMAN BAND / ERIK NORLANDER & LANA LANE
HLC, Rotherham 18th September 2004
My previous impression of Oliver and his band had been one of
highly competent performance marred by the absence of any spark,
tonight's overlong taped intro from 'The 3 Ages Of Magick' didn't
improve this view.. Then........... the voice of new band member
Paul Manzi cast aside that opinion within seconds.
Set openers - 'Shadows Of Fate' and 'At Home In The Mire' from
'The Hound Of The Baskervilles' CD - provided a powerful start.
Oliver then took us back to his 'Jabberwocky' CD for 'Dangerous
World' and 'A Glimmer Of Light' before playing two tracks from
his forthcoming 'Mother's Ruin' CD - 'Don't Come Running' and
'In The Movies'. The energetic instrumental 'Three Broken Threads'
and the genteel 'Picture
Of A Lady' both from 'The Hound....' album followed. David Mark
Pearce on guitar became more animated - moving across to trade
appreciative nods with Oliver more than once. Dave Wagstaffe (Landmarq)
on drums provided a consistent foundation as usual, with strong
support from new bassist Paul Brown.
The bands' new found confidence, nurtured by the addition of the
new members only ten weeks ago, carried on through 'The Burgundy
Rose' from 'Jabberwocky' and into the new songs 'Calling For You'
and 'I Don't Believe In Angels'. Then it was back to 'The Hound....'
CD for 'Run For Your Life', in which Paul Manzi covered the original
female lead vocal with ease. The new 'Walk Away' ended the set,
before a well deserved encore of 'Coming To Town' from 'Jabberwocky'.
Quite simply this was the best performance by Oliver's band that
I have seen - he has sold at least one future gig ticket to see
his band and one copy of the eagerly awaited 'Mother's Ruin' CD
on the basis of it.
Geoff Arnold
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