Mon Ami,
Thanks for this.
My favourite tour book is 'ATGB'.
I think it was the last one penned jointly by Simon Puxley & BF.
It relays a great musical story with terrific visuals and layout — they obviously put a huge effort into it.
I was hoping that Avonmore would feature a new shoot with BF as he is today (it's not like he's lost his panache) rather than rehashing visuals from concerts but as you say a completist has to be a completist.
Pleased you enjoyed Cambridge and Good luck at RAH.
Salutations,
Windswept

I think 'As Time Goes By' was one of my favourites too, many wonderful pictures I'd never seen before. I thought the 2001 reunion and 'Frantic' programs weren't as good, but then it picked up again with 'Dylanesque'. Since the 'For Your Pleasure' tour the new layouts have been stunning. It would be nice to have a hardback book one day that could include many pictures from the start up to the present day, the sort of thing Genesis Publications could do.

As regards to an earlier comment about the tour having a Noir feel about it, I couldn't agree more! A back drop of stills from some cinema classics would look good. I can see a picture of the sinister Dirk Bogarde, James Fox and Sarah Miles from 'The Servant' on the screen!

Hipsters,
W2 couldn't agree more with the ever tasteful LondonPubs albeit, this issue has been raised before and we were given to understand that a coffee table piece was underdevelopment. Perhaps J'OB can elaborate?

'More than this' we have to have the official biography. If one of the greatest musicians of our time's life were to go undocumented, this would be the travesty of travesties.

Salutations,

W2

W2 - your comment re BF's 1000th rendition of " Lets Stick Together " brought much mirth in this household . I think I would be climbing the walls if I had to perform a song as often as that .

In essence, there are two concerts going on. The first is of far more interest to most VRM posters and includes new tracks from Avonmore as well as less well known tunes like Zumba, Bete Noire, Stronger Through the Years as well as a few Dylan songs, etc. Then the second concert starts with the last 5-6 songs that the "average fan" has been waiting for (LITD, EOY, JY, VP). And LST is a big one because everybody remembers it and it is suitable "dance music" for people in their 60s.

I'm stateside and won't be going to any of the Brit-Tour shows, but if I did, the only songs I would really be interested in hearing would be Z, BN, STTY, the slow version of MTT and Avonmore (the song). Some others would be enjoyable to hear (e.g. Take a Chance). But the final group of songs in the set is a big yawn...

Hipsters,

I can see where DCJ is coming from but the 2011 FYP show in Sydney showed me what a conundrum Roxy/BF's set lists can become.

Personally I was delighted with the selection. It featured some great choices (The Main Thing, Street Life, Pararie Rose, 2HB etc..) and probably pushed the set list more towards the avant garde than any since the 2001 reunion.

Although the concert itself didn't scale the heights of others it wasn't for the lack of a great set list that was extremely well played.

And despite the fact that enthusiasm between the band had left the room, I left the gig in my normal state of post Roxy euphoria due in no small part to hearing great songs that I hadn't heard played live in a while.

Unfortunately post concert research, conducted in a local bar, left me with the distinct impression that my love of the set list had me in a minority of one. The vast majority wanted the favourites and many drew unfavourable comparisons between that gig and 'Frantic' (the last time BF had been down under). In short, they wanted the hits — solo and Roxy - and were quite vociferous about it. Sad but true and BF doubtless knows that he fails to please the casual fan at his peril.

Maybe the solution is a special gig for Roxologists who have to wear either their black silk knitted ties or their pillbox hats to gain entry.
Excluding the casual fan is the only way columnists in this hallowed cyber hall will get what they want.

Salutations,

Windswept.

I agree WS2, BF can't fill up 2,500 seat theatres with only Roxologists. The average fan wants to hear BF (or Roxy) play the songs that they know and like.

Stronger Through the Years is not a song that the average fan has any recollection of or appreciation for. Hopefully they'll enjoy/appreciate it when its played at the concert, but it's not something that will get them excited. To them, BF is the guy who sang LST. And they want to hear LST. Case closed.

I would imagine that BF is tired of singing LST. But he knows where his bread is buttered and he doesn't want to disappoint the average ticket buyer. He's trapped, but accepts it as the price to be paid to have a successful tour...

An Eric Clapton show without 'Layla'? A Peter Gabriel concert without 'Solsbury Hill' or 'Sledgehammer'? Hard to imagine ... Only Bob Dylan would surprise his audience with a special kind of set list and without performing 'Blowin' In The Wind' or 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'. As we all know he often didn't care about what his fans expected him to do. But do we want Bryan to treat us like that? I'm looking forward to singing along the chorus of 'LITD' with some happy non-roxologists in September

Mes Amis,

When I reflect on it, the gig of gigs when it comes to set lists has to be AEWBF.

That show delivered in spades because the BFO and the arrangements afforded him so many possibilities.

Yes, lots of the favourites were there but with a twist and many of the more avant garde found favour with the crowd because they were played so well and animated in such a phenomenal way with the back drop visuals.

The closer was either 'Move On Up' , 'Hold On I'm Coming' or 'Editions Of You' and at both of the shows I attended the joints were absolutely rocking.

I do hope we get a DVD from this tour. I'd play it to death.

Salutations,
W2

Really great show in Bridlington, just one look added between zamba and stronger through the years meaning 25 songs in all. BF and band much better than I would ever have imagined. Note about BF'S attire, the suit I think is the same has that he wore on Jonathon Ross and has a very subtle red stripe in it the jacket being more in line shape/length ways to the box/roxy jacket favoured by our leader in the IYM to F+B tour days and the trousers back to what is now termed as slim/skinny fit.