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DVDfever.co.uk – Gig Review: Seasick SteveElly Roberts reviews
25: Greatest Hits: 
Simply Reds swansong awesome!
With the final curtain slowly coming down on a glittering 25 year career, frontman Mick Hucknall said au Revoir to his loyal fanbase at Birminghams NEC LG Arena on Saturday night. Predictably the show was a sell-out. Twelve thousand came to pay homage.
Of course, this wasnt THE end, as more UK gigs are scheduled, but its the last time I will see them.
On a personal note, this was a sad occasion. Trying to be objective is nigh on impossible, because Ive been a big fan from the start.
It must be nigh on 21 years since first I saw ol red perform at Manchesters GMEX arena promoting the album New Flame.
Since then, Ive seen the band 15 times, and as with previous shows, its always a great night, especially that brilliant voice, sounding better than ever.
For me, along with some superb sophisticated pop, his amazing voice is always the highlight. Tonight, those cultured tubes got a right work-out.
Love him or hate him, Hucknall is still one of the greatest singers (if not the) Britain has produced, and this night he was out to prove it.
Rolling back the years, Mick, immaculate in light great suit and dark blue shirt, he unleashed his incredible back-catalogue.
This was a night for the fans they usually are though but the setlist was tailored specifically as a Greatest Hits show of 20 songs.
In less than two hours, he gave us a masterclass in universal pop songs which have been the soundtrack to our lives. Most of us knew the lyrics, but if we didnt, they were handy in the glossy programme.
The band normally starts with mellow tunes building up to crescendo. Tonight was an exception. Straight out of the blocks he hit us with Its Only Love as I sat in the snappers pit frantically trying to get the best shots from the first three songs. A New Flame soon followed with old blue eyes whipping up the packed arena, not that he needed to.
Jericho, a minor hit from 1986 was superb. Its been years since he played it, and it was great to hear it again in all its glory, especially Ian Kirkhams top sax solo.
This next song was recorded in Kingston Jamaica with Sly and Robbie, he announced before getting to the reggae grooves of Night Nurse with the chorus engulfing the arena with fans joyfully joining in.
Huckers became a father in 2007; so inevitably, he dropped in the next one. Were gonna go into some ballads that have made us famous. Why not eh? This was originally written for you. Now its for me, he proudly said, introducing Your Babies.
Wasting little time, he said in a mock Welsh accent, This one made me famous. And it did. Holding Back The Years, on its re-issue in May 1968, became a world-wide hit making the band a household name. Twenty three years on, it still has the same effect: an incredible song (most of it written when he was 16) and brilliantly sung, as ever.
Until then, it brought the biggest cheers.
Hucknall always had a knack of doing brilliant covers (except the Moody Blues Go Now, a disaster in my opinion and a sad end to their singles output), though his choice of matching the vocal gymnastics of The Stylistics Russell Thompkins Jr. was never in doubt. You Make Me Feel Brand New was sensational with that voice as sharp and disciplined as it ever was, and his contorted face emphasising the loveliness of the songs sentiment.
After two more covers The Hollies The Air That I Breathe and Go Now, he was back to originals the classy Thrill Me. Whopping drums and the funky bass-lines exploded while Huckers rolled up his sleeves at the halfway mark. Fake was very good. Track one album one, isnt this fun?, introduced a stirring Come To My Aid with the night really hotting up.
It was the raspy innuendo of The Right Thing, Track one , album two, that finally got everybody in the seated area on their feet. Hall and Oates sampled Sunrise was cool and slick. Closing the main set we got pulsating beats of Fairground, Simply Reds one and only number one. Wriggling a writhing, the ladies went crazy for his moves.
Jacket on, Thank you, a bow and a wave and he was gone after one hour 25 minutes.
After the usual round of clapping and stomping they were back to hysterical screams, going straight into disco-oriented Something Got Me Started and (yet another brilliant cover) of The Valentine Brothers (appropriately) tilted Moneys Too Tight To Mention.
Keen for a response he quizzed, Have you had a good time then? Thank you and good night?
Quickly off-and-on-again for a second encore, the arena lit up with small white lights and they were into Stars, arguably their most popular song of the night. Back to a cover, one that definitely surpasses the original If You Dont Know Me By Now – got everybody singing, the way he likes it to be.
And now it was all over. Ladies and gentlemen, Simply Red, a proud Mick shouted. If this was our last time, then it was beautiful baby. Good night. Indeed.
The verdict – He’ll be missed by millions.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.