Paul at the Royal Albert Hall - Review, Pics and Video

Review by Ernie Sutton

When I reviewed Paul’s gig at the O2, London, in December 2011, I closed with the words “Would I go and see this again? You bet I would.” 

Well sooner than expected I found myself at this special charity gig in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, at the Royal Albert Hall, who have supported this charity for a range of concerts for over a decade. 

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The evening started as it did at the O2, with a DJ playing new mixes of Paul, Beatle and John Lennon material. 

At 8:30 Kelly James introduced us to the charity and a short video was shown of a young boy recovering from a brain tumour. Then Roger Daltrey (of The Who) came onto the stage with a young lady called Lucy, who had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of just 17. 

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Roger is instrumental in putting these shows for the charity together, and Lucy told her story to a captivated audience. She occasionally lost track of where she was, but the crowd showed their appreciation with applause for her. Roger was superb with her saying to the audience “If I had to stand here and say this in front of you lot I would be shitting myself”. 

The audience and Lucy burst into laughter and Lucy was then far more relaxed and told her amazing story, paying tribute to her mum at the end, who was stood in the wings. 

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Paul Weller then came onto the stage and introduced Paul and the band. 

Because of these introductions, Paul had to cut some songs from the O2 gig; we didn’t mind the whole evening was about the Teenage Cancer Trust. Paul though, added “My Valentine” and “Magical Mystery Tour”, which opened the show. 

c. Ernie Sutton

Paul was on superb form all evening, despite a small hiccup in “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”, where he got the words slightly wrong. “Did anyone spot the deliberate mistake?” he said at the end. Most of the music came from The Beatles/Wings periods, and the standard tributes to John and George were there, plus a tribute to Linda- not “My Love”, but “Maybe I’m Amazed”. “My Valentine” was dedicated to his new wife Nancy. 

c. Ernie Sutton

Paul got the audience rocking with some great rockers like “Back in the USSR”, “Juniors Farm” and “Paperback Writer”. It was great to see a lot of young fans in the audience really enjoying their night out- some there to see Paul for the first time. 

By the time “Hey Jude” was played the whole place was singing and standing- it was a fantastic end to the show. But wait there must be an encore! 

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Of course there was and “Day Tripper” had the place rocking again, before Paul introduced three special guests for the next number. Onto stage came Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey and Paul Weller to perform “Get Back”. By now the crowd were at fever pitch as the band left the stage again. 

The fans got their wish for more and Paul sang “Yesterday” with the whole audience joining in. The venue is so unique that the sound of the crowd just echoes around- apparently this is due to the mushrooms on the ceiling- put in after The Beatles performed there in the 60’s to avoid any echo- as Paul had told us earlier in the show. 

The Abbey Road medley- “Golden Slumbers””Carry That Weight” and “The End” completed a fantastic night. 

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There were videos accompanying some of the songs, but to be honest we didn’t need them, we were all having such a great time. 

A splendid time was had by all, and all in aid raising money for an excellent charity providing teenagers with hope for the future, which was what the whole evening was about. 

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Thanks again Paul for ANOTHER fantastic show and for helping this wonderful charity. 

www.teenagecancertrust.org 

Set List: Magical Mystery Tour/Juniors Farm/All My Loving/Drive My Car/Sing The Changes/The Night Before/Let Me Roll It/Paperback Writer/The Long and Winding Road/Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five/My Valentine/Maybe I’m Amazed/I’ve Just Seen a Face/Blackbird/Here Today/Dance Tonight/Eleanor Rigby/Band on the Run/Something/Back in the USSR/I’ve Got a Feeling/Hey Jude. Encore 1: Day Tripper/Get Back. Encore 2: Yesterday/Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. 

The BBFC would like to thank the Beatles Shop (31 Mathew Street, www.beatleshop.co.uk) for allowing us to post these photos and video from Paul's concert at the Royal Albert Hall, in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust, on March 29.

ALL photos are copyright The Beatles Shop/The British Beatles Fan Club.  Do NOT reproduce without the express permission of the copyright holder.