The Stables, Wavendon, 3 June 2010 (2nd night) - Deb and Karen return to Milton Keynes

Theatre! Tonight we attended the theatre; a pageant of pure theatrical delights. Tonight’s performance wasn’t good - IT WAS BLOODY FANTASTIC. We said yesterday, that so many times we get asked, “Don’t you get tired?”  Tired of what? Yes we get tired, physically: the planning, the juggling home, work and lives to attend, the long and sometimes tortuous journeys..... You know, those days, like today, when achieving those speeds indicated on those 40mph signs on the gantries above the motorway is an aspiration rather than a restriction

...and when you finally get to bed at 3am having poured out your feelings into a keyboard. But that’s all that makes us tired. Every show is so exciting; tonight we were children again, we just smiled ear to ear, huge grins on both our faces as we sat and watched the show unfold.

When the Lartey Sisters came on, one of us was sure in their heart they would not be blinded with tears this night, would take deep breaths and just enjoy, but there’s something so spiritual about Ashleigh s voice that just pull at the heart strings, crystal clear vocals, smooth, velvety and so calming, so uplifting, takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, breathtaking.  In fact, heart-stopping at times and the tears flowed once more. These girls are exceptional, Faye cradles and holds her guitar like she was born with it, will die with it, play it for life, never to be apart, and Ashleigh, well... Ashleigh surely is heaven sent, beautiful soul-reaching voice, that fills every fibre, flows like liquid gold, so special, mere words could never describe the joy of being in an audience of their deliverance. Sheer blinding brilliance.

The house lights go up and there is a collective sharp intake of breath. We recover by taking a short repose outside in the warm sunshine of the evening, where Gerry (a Harleymate from Southampton) has reserved us a couple of chairs, and we are joined by Brian who appraises us of very sad news and we also make mental notes to admonish DaveH the Other, when next we see him for missing out.

A distant bell tolls to summon us back inside and we mingle with the crowd  who are retaking their seats as Act II of tonight’s performance beckons; the actors poised in the wings.  Against the stark, currently unlit backdrop, the shadowy shapes of Lincoln and Stuart appear then Faye and Ashleigh, James, Robbie and finally Barry and the main man himself, Steve Harley, as the spotlight falls and the entire band are lit, resplendent in black; co-ordination of the wardrobe department or just sheer coincidence? Once again Faith and Virtue opens the set, new to some in the audience, it is starting (after seven shows) on this tour to feel like one of the best ever starts to the set list and we are dining out with him (albeit on Thursday).

‘Psychomodo’ is inspired once more, with James’s arm crashes making a welcome reappearance stage right and then the first of tonight’s magical entrances by that ‘Judy Teen’ as she sneaks in again at the end of ‘Panorama’ which follows her principal carousel role and it’s smiles all the way. We are grinning from ear to ear and begging for food from the feeder. ‘No Bleeding Hearts’ takes your breath away, first James and Lincoln are highlighted in red and then Steve with guitar encircled by silver, emphasising, stressing the meaning in the words as only they, the strumming from Steve and Lincoln’s bass can be hear over the absorbed crowd. It’s a moment that seems to last forever, hang in the air, all eyes transfixed upon him and then slowly you are aware of other voices in the chorus, the keyboards, the guitar, the violin, flute and drums and before you know it there is movement and light from every quarter and the sound is bouncing off every surface and filling that very small theatre with a huge rock sound.

Next comes ‘True Love Will Find You in the End’ and the crowd are nodding and joining in, as Daniel Johnston’s short but profound piece is give the full Harley treatment before the curtain rises upon ‘Mirror Freak’ (did you know that the title is not mentioned in the lyrics – bit of trivia for you...) and there is a standing ovation. We are still standing when that familiar jangling guitar starts and hearts leap and we realise he’s about to do Karen’s favourite song ‘Nothing Is Sacred’ - it’s a moment when nothing is stirring ‘cept us two and he – as we sit and sing the right words in the right order, as James and Ashley shake percussion and Steve does the same words as us but not necessarily in the same order but we don’t care as we sit and smile – so good to hear it!

‘This Old Man’ is stunning, conviction and feeling in every word and we think of a mate across the room and how life and death sometimes leaves despair in their wake and hope for better times to come for him and his. Soon we’re back with that lovely 4th album and ‘All the Men are Hungry’ and ensconced in our seats almost level with the stage we are able to appreciate the glorious fade towards the end before the sound rises once more for more singing along with ‘Mr Raffles’. James and Stuart are having a wild old time towards the rear of the stage as skins and percussion are struck and slapped, Robbie jingle jangles the guitar strings and Steve leads the crowd to acknowledge their part in his glorious party. George Harrison’s ‘Here comes The Sun’ follows with the usually quiet Stables audience clapping and cheering the man performing and singing along with every word.

‘The Lighthouse’ is once again, and deservedly, the show-stopper and the crowd are on their feet applauding Barry’s violin and we hardly have time to draw breath before Barry’s swapped instruments for the incredible guitar sounds on ‘Blinded with Tears’. ‘Mr Soft’ next and Steve is thoroughly enjoying himself as first Robbie then Barry give us perfect instrumentals enhancing the overall bee-bop sound and we are witness to the use of the lighting tower as a percussion instrument for the first time on this tour – jaw dropping!

‘Stranger Comes to Town’ is heartfelt and beautiful. Steve has his eyes shut at times, other times he is staring out over the crowd, his arms adding to the earnestness with which he enunciates the words. This is pure theatre, as is ‘Sebastian’ which follows and is just better/different with every performance and where tonight’s highlight is Ashleigh’s flute playing and the truly amazing jam session that Steve allows James to wander off into – we are watching with mouths wide open in astonishment, our ears picking up every detail and rising like everyone else at the end to acknowledge the mastery of the performance we have just witnessed and finally an encore of ‘Journey’s End’ and ‘Make Me Smile’ leaves us all smiling, standing and begging for more.....