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Elly Roberts reviews
Paul Rodgers catalogue: 
British blues-rock icon Paul Rodgers is still going strong on his UK Tour 2006.
In fact, the legendary singers voice is in great shape. This night at theLyric Theatre, he rolled back the years backed by his sensational all-Americanband Howard Leese (ex-Heart) and Kurtis Dengler (Electric Shades of Blue)on guitars, drummer Ryan Hoyle (Collective Soul) and bassist Lynn Sorenson.
The former Free and Bad Company frontman is going through a serious commercialrenaissance via the release of the outstanding Free Forever DVD,Free’s Chronicles and Free’s Live At The BBC CDs. With the addedbenefit of leading Queen last year, all things are pointing towards Rodgersonce again.
This outstanding gig was a memorable night in many ways. Going back to theearly ’70s when I saw Free at the Boxing Arena in Liverpool, this was verymuch a sentimental event. Thrilled at seeing him once again, and meeting himafter the show, it brought back floods of memories from that night when amusic-mad teenager went to his first rock gig at the age of 16.
Arguably one of the greatest voices of all time, hes proving he can stillcut the mustard at the age of 56. The setlist, drawn mostly from his Freedays, some Bad Company and solo releases, the seasoned veteran went all outto impress – and how.
As the white spotlight draped him, he opened with soulful funky bass-ledIll Be Creepin with greetings engulfing the venue. Parading the stageto engage his fans, he was out to have good night, spinning and lofting hismic stand. Frees All Right Now follow-up flop, The Stealercranked up the pace with the band showing their collective credentials.Two gems followed Pony and one of Frees most treasured songs, thehaunting Be My Friend.
Dropping in work-in-progress War Boys (A Prayer For Peace), heencouraged the crowd to stand and party, though that would take a bit longerto take effect. When Feel Like Making Love arrived three dancers poppedup at the stage front, which clearly delighted Rodgers. Moving to tinkle thegrand piano, Rodgers launched into the rock blast of Bad Company. A songwith The Maytals, Smile, recorded in Jamaica, was considerably beefed-up forpurpose, as mesmerising 17 year old Dengler and slick Leese went head-to-headon solos.
The three song run-in became the crowing glory. Fire And Water raisedthe stakes. The opening of Wishing Well brought the long overdue partyatmosphere, raising the roof. Then Rodgers asked, “Are you reaaaaaaady ?”
“Yes were reaaaaady”, we replied to the drumstick countdown of AllRight Now. Chords blasting out, the story of the boy-meets-girl pickupsent the crowd wild. Leeses solo (a match for Kossoffs any day), was thedefining highlight of the show. Rodgers even managed to let us sing thechorus a few times on our own, to everyones delight.
A change of T-shirt for the finale, more thrills followed. Hendrixs LittleWing was superb (more dazzling work from Dengler) as was sexy rockerIm A Mover. Going out in style, a thumping The Hunter boomed out,taking the set to another level, again with Dengler and Leese showboating,whilst Rodgers mic stand was lofted and thrown several times, marking atriumphant return to Manchester.
Weblinks:Paul Rodgers.com /Noble PR.co.uk
The set-list.
Elly Roberts with Paul Rodgers.
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.