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Perhaps you'll learn more about me as you read my blog. For anyone who translates my blog using the translator facility, don't forget if you wish to read the comments in your own language to click on the title of the post down the left hand side otherwise they will remain in english. Also I assume that the translation is accurate but I don't know, so please allow for errors.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Back From One Of The Best Concerts...

I have ever seen(not that I have seen that many)

The opening act was good but sorry to say(it rarely happens)I was bored.

But after the interval...wow!

Graham Gouldman(ex member of 10cc and Wax)and composer of so many songs that I have grown up listening to for it seems forever. Writer of songs for many groups and artists for around 50 years. Often I have probably had no idea he was responsible. What a back catalogue he has but he hasn't stopped writing and his newer material is just as good. He was well received and it was the first night of his tour. He opened with a song from 1966 "Pamela" which Wayne Fontana had a hit with and I saw him sing that last week. A performance stripped back to basics and done acoustically.

And he wrote songs for other well known groups of that time like Hermits Hermits, The Yardbirds and The Hollies(who unless something unexpected happens I will see in October)It appears his favourite song is "Bus Stop" which they had a hit with.

Their set lasted approx 90 minutes. Most of the recent shows I have seen have had a break of twenty minutes, here it was thirty minutes.

All venues now allow drinks in the theatre area and many sit sipping wine and larger but tonight a few of the audience had a bottle of wine with them. I haven't seen that before.

I tried to take a photo but frankly they are rubbish(not helped by the fact that I did not use a flash)and so you have to remain still for longer so it is a blurred image. Its not your eyes.

It was my first show at this venue and what an intimate theatre. I had a great seat approx 5 rows back on the end of the row and because the next row was a step down I could see everything easily.

I managed to get to the venue reasonably well with lots of time to spare, if I did not have to wait and change buses it took approx 45 minutes and not too many stops along the way. Unfortunately, no buses home even though the show ended 30 minutes earlier than suggested. But the taxi office was virtually next to the theatre and I was home within 30 minutes. The taxi driver would not take a tip and he did it for the lowest price possible. I had been quoted £18-£20.

If I'd had to pay for my bus there and back I would have spent around that so the taxi was no more expensive. But a bus would have been free.

 
The Arc Stockton On Tees
 
 
Told You The Images Were Rubbish
 
 
I Was Closer Than The Image Suggests
 
 
Also I Kept The Camera Low And Heads
Are In The Picture But Were Not In My Way
 
Stockton is changing and it is obvious that money is being spent on it but it is in a bit of a mess but though it could be nearly 30 years since I was last there the high street hasn't changed a great deal from my memories though I am sure certain shop have come and gone. I seem to remember it was said to have the longest high street in England but that may have changed over the years.
 
I know in the 60's and early 70's it had the best night clubs and all those that were anyone in show business comic or singer/group and the same was true of the local theatre that was there, not just from the UK but big names from the States. That theatre has been empty for years and been allowed to deteriorate but we keep hearing that it is to reopen...not yet! And the nightclubs have long gone.
 
 
Stockton High Street One Way
 
 
Stockton High Street The Other Way
 
Just maybe if the centre is revamped and it may become busy once more. The bus service may be more in demand. These views were taken from the bus shelter where I sat and ate the food and drink that I had in my rucksack.
 
Remember if you want to see the images larger and in greater detail click your mouse on the image, you can make even those images larger by clicking on that image as you will see a little magnifying glass with a plus sign in its centre, when you want to return to the blog or another image press the back button on your browser. I just did so myself and they looked better. Not those of the concert though...



1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a great time! :o)

Thanks for the pictures. That looks like a nice little town...visually interesting. I really like the light fixtures.

So many of our towns are boring. :oP

Jan

26 April 2013 at 08:12  

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