Concert Reviews
Hammersmith Apollo, London, UK
May 6, 2004
From the opening note of the opening number ("I Can Feel Your Heartbeat", of course!) until the final note of the encore ("How Can I Be Sure?") David's performance was fantastic!
It's extremely disappointing to those of us in the UK that he won't be doing any more tours outside the US. Hopefully, he will do "one-off" concerts, as he has said and some of us will have the opportunity to see him again. Judging from the reaction of the audience, he would be extremely warmly-welcomed. We cannot all get to Stowe in August!
The show almost exclusively consisted of David's and the "Partridge Family" songs. Although some of us were, no doubt, expecting him to perform more tracks from his current CD, which is beautiful, no one was complaining! There were some inventive touches. David borrowed a mobile 'phone for "Echo Valley" and, when he spoke to the "operator", Lisa announced, "You have reached a disconnected decade!" It was good to hear that song again. If anything, David's voice just improves with age like a vintage wine. It is still distinctively David, though!
I could not juggle pen and paper to note the songs sung whilst dancing AND taking photographs (must have one of those "old-fashioned brains" like David, who said he couldn't dial a number on a 'phone and walk at the same time!) so I've had to rely on my memory for the set list.
As far as I can recall, the first half contained, "I Can Feel Your Heartbeat," "Hush," "Echo Valley 26809," "Summer Days," "I Am A Clown," (which David forgot the words to, as he did 2 days before, in Brighton and, if my memory does not deceive me, he also did in Brighton in 1985!), "I Write The Songs," "I Think I Love You" and "Daydreamer."
In response to David hearing someone at the front mention what was coming next, he said that he would change it and, instead of singing a whole bunch of hits, would play things we had never heard of! He announced the next number as "12 Bar Blues in G." Was that as spontaneous as it seemed, or was it planned, we wondered! It didn't matter, either way. It is great to hear David playing and singing old hits and new songs.
After the interval, David was again wearing white shirt and black jeans, which was rather a let-down! The important thing, though, was the action, which certainly didn't disappoint! David clearly enjoyed himself, as did we! He seems to have heaps of energy, even towards the end of what must have been a tiring tour and puts all he has into each performance. It's scarcely believable that he has been entertaining us for over 3 decades!
After "Ain't No Sunshine," came my favourite section, with David playing acoustic guitar, unaccompanied by his band, for "No Reply," "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Blackbird" and "I Think I Love You." His vocal skills are well-suited to this style and we were all transfixed (apart from the selfish fan who had to shout out whilst he was singing "I Think I Love You," after he had successfully asked for us all to sit down and not to sing, causing David to stop mid-way through this poignant version of a familiar song. That totally spoiled the moment.
The evening flew by, with renditions of "Common Thief," "Rock Me baby," "I Woke Up In Love This Morning," "Cherish" and "The Last Kiss." We all sang and danced along, enjoying the party.
Unfortunately, there was only one encore, "How Can I Be Sure?" (I missed "Cry"!) Well, David, you can definitely be sure that your U.K. fans still love you!
Thanks for another wonderful show!
Set List
Overture
I Can Feel Your Heartbeat
Hush
Echo Valley
Summer Days
I Am A Clown
I Write The Songs
Could It Be Forever?
Daydreamer
I Think I Love You
Ain't No Sunshine
No Reply
Blackbird
Ricky's Tune
I Think I Love You
Common Thief
Rock Me Baby
I Woke Up In Love This Morning
Cherish
The Last Kiss
Encore :
How Can I Be Sure?
Glenda
