Birmingham O2 Academy – 31/03/22
Arriving at the O2 Academy in Birmingham there was a hub of excitement in the audience as the crowd waited with anticipation for Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble to enter the stage. The venue had put seats out and it was all unreserved, so arriving late, as I did (I sadly missed Carl Palmer’s ELP) I was resigned to find a seat either at the back or down the side. In fact, I managed to get a great spec, amazingly on the front row, on the far left.
The band arrived on stage to an eruptions applause followed by the cloaked maestro, Rick Wakeman CBE himself, who received a standing ovation as he took his place at his throne. An impressively grand set of keyboards and organs, positioned centre stage. Drummer Tony Fernandez is to Rick’s left, with Ricks son Adam on his right with an arsenal of yet more keyboards. The band is completed by Lee Pomeroy on bass, Dave Colquhoun on guitar and the amazing Hayley Sanderson on vocal duties.
The four-piece set list absolutely flew, Rick was on for just under two hours and I was in my element from beginning to end. Journey to the Centre of the Earth began proceedings. A suite some 35 minutes long. This was prog rock heaven! The sound was impeccable, the mix was outstanding; you could hear every nuance and subtly that the musicians were playing.
Hayley Sanderson’s voice was incredible, it really suited the material, even though the original was sung by Gary Pickford-Hopkins. In such a male oriented genre, (let’s face it, how many female prog musicians are there?) I thought Hayley was a breath of fresh air, not to mention amazingly talented, going from big top end belting to quiet, intricate whispers. I especially loved her take on The Battle from the Journey suite. You need a big voice to compete with everyone on that stage and she nailed it!
The 1984 suite came after journey, an album that Rick worked on with Tim Rice and then a piece from my personal favourite Rick Wakeman album, ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’, Rick introducing it saying that he’s almost had as many wives! We were treated to Catherine Parr and at just seven or so minutes long, I think maybe the shortest piece of the night.
After Catherine, Rick introduced the final piece, to a rumble of applause from the crowd. ‘King Arthur’ began and again, what a sound. Rick Wakeman, obviously is phenomenal, but the band are out of this world too. Musicians all at the top of their game. I must mention Dave Colquhoun, a stunning guitarist who played some wonderful solos throughout.
As Arthur drew to a close, the band left the stage very briefly, only to re emerge for the encore. And what an Encore. Rick promised a YES track and here it is; Starship Trooper, perhaps not the Yes piece that I was expecting – despite Rick doing a number of versions of the song over the years, it’s not a Rick Wakeman era YES song. But that’s the point of Prog isn’t it, to surprise you! I absolutely loved Starship Trooper, again Dave Colquhoun shone, matching the great Steve Howe on guitar. What a sound and what a way to finish!
In fact, I left the venue in total awe. The ERE and Rick Wakeman blew me away. It was an absolutely Incredible night of music that was over all too soon! I really look forward to my next outing with Rick and the English Rock Ensemble, I can’t wait for more.
