Cat Stevens at the O2 in November..

delbertgrady · 16-11-2009 11:04am

It was advertised as being a part of the show, but I don't think people expected it to take up as much of the night as it did - maybe have the set on stage, and do a few songs with some dancers, or something, but not have him not be on stage for so long, and certainly not have key songs from his back catalogue NOT being sung by him.
Nevertheless, apart from grievances with the musical, I think a lot of people expected a two hour show of Cat Stevens songs, which was never going to happen, given that he's got two albums under his belt as Yusuf, and his philosophy is that some of the songs from the seventies are not in keeping with his world view now, so they were never likely to be played in the first place.

MMD · 16-11-2009 11:05am

delbertgrady wrote: »

It was advertised as being a part of the show, but I don't think people expected it to take up as much of the night as it did - maybe have the set on stage, and do a few songs with some dancers, or something, but not have him not be on stage for so long, and certainly not have key songs from his back catalogue NOT being sung by him.

+1 totally agree.

edenbridge146 · 16-11-2009 11:09am

Yep, I never read anything about there being a musical part of the show.
Regardless, it was disappointing to hear young actors and actress's singing Cat Stevens songs. I paid to see him singing them.
Little niave of Cat me thinks

fryup · 16-11-2009 11:18am

"play peacetrain you f&ckin bollix"

only in ireland:rolleyes:

delbertgrady · 16-11-2009 11:21am

fryup wrote: »

"play peacetrain you f&ckin bollix"

only in ireland:rolleyes:

WHAT?! Did someone shout that out?

MMD · 16-11-2009 11:23am

delbertgrady wrote: »

WHAT?! Did someone shout that out?

Now that I did not hear...that IS disgraceful

BaZmO* · 16-11-2009 11:35am

A 30 min advertisement during his show? Wow

If he was a poster on Boards he'd be banned for being a shill.

LOL at the "peacetrain" heckle.

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 11:55am

irishbird wrote: »

LOL seriously ?

It was was Ronan Keating

:rolleyes:
Keating sang Father and son - Who sang Moonshadow?

chughes · 16-11-2009 12:08pm

Gerry Ryan said last week was that he was really looking forward to this gig. I didn't hear what he had to say earlier. Can someone give me the gist of what he said about the gig ?

careca · 16-11-2009 12:17pm

chughes wrote: »

Gerry Ryan said last week was that he was really looking forward to this gig. I didn't hear what he had to say earlier. Can someone give me the gist of what he said about the gig ?

He and a security guard lambasted the people who were shouting and getting abusive. Security guard said one of his crew was assaulted, said he was head butted and bitten :eek::eek: Ryan reckoned Ireland would come out of it very bad when word gets to England about it. He wanted someone who had lost the plot to ring in but nobody did. They all agreed that Yusuf was naive and that it was mainly dissapointing but that people had over reacted, which is fair enough I suppose. He said he met Yusuf after and that he was visibly shaken. Ryan also said he (Ryan) was embarrassed.

BaZmO* · 16-11-2009 12:21pm

careca wrote: »

Ryan also said he (Ryan) was embarrassed.

If I was Gerry Ryan I'd be embarrassed too.

chughes · 16-11-2009 12:29pm

careca wrote: »

He and a security guard lambasted the people who were shouting and getting abusive. Security guard said one of his crew was assaulted, said he was head butted and bitten :eek::eek: Ryan reckoned Ireland would come out of it very bad when word gets to England about it. He wanted someone who had lost the plot to ring in but nobody did. They all agreed that Yusuf was naive and that it was mainly dissapointing but that people had over reacted, which is fair enough I suppose. He said he met Yusuf after and that he was visibly shaken. Ryan also said he (Ryan) was embarrassed.

Thanks for that, Careca. I've read all the posts here and it seems many people were disappointed. I was interested to hear what Gerry Ryan had to say as he was so looking forward to it.

mattfender · 16-11-2009 12:42pm

careca wrote: »

Wow at the people leaving in handcuffs. Worst I saw was one girl who had totally lost it and was parading along the stage trying to get Cat's attention. Luckily he didn't seem to spot her.

Think that was the stage manager!

mattfender · 16-11-2009 12:44pm

irishbird wrote: »

LOL seriously ?

It was was Ronan Keating

the west end chap i think he means ha:pac:

the glass woman · 16-11-2009 12:53pm

I for one had not heard the interviews Jusuf had given during the week about the musical part, or seen any posters for the concert, however as a huge fan I bought tickets for myself and my husband and we both weren't sure what to expect but were willing to take that chance. It was obvious that most of the songs were going to be 'jusef' songs as opposed to cat stevens, so it was pretty pointless for the audience to be shouting for cat stevens songs all night, or 'where's cat?' during the musical part.

I did get incredibly frustrated during the musical, after about 10 mins, esp when I realised he wasnt going to be singing matthew and son, or wild world. And to be honest, I wasnt sure how much more of Jusuf we were going to see after the musical part. But when he came back and played another 45 mins after the musical, he more than made up for it, and the time he totalled on stage was equal to any other artist and worth the money we spent.

I felt very embarassed at the way the audience heckled and behaved, and it totally took the shine off the night, for jusuf aswell from what we could see.

Jusuf "I'm going to play you this new song"
Audience "BOOOOOOOOO!"
That was disgraceful.

He said it himself, he wanted to give us a 'show and a half', and technically he did, its a pity he was left apologising for that.

careca · 16-11-2009 12:53pm

mattfender wrote: »

Think that was the stage manager!

No this def wasn't the stage manager. She had totally lost the plot.

Funnily enough, the security guard on the radio this morning mentioned her. Said she insisted on speaking to "Mr Stevens" as this "just wasn't right".

balla · 16-11-2009 2:06pm

The advertising was misleading so the real issue here is the concert promoters misleading the public to sell tickets. The only ad I saw was in a newspaper a week ago, marketing the concert as a Cat Stevens greatest hits tour.

I'm a big Cat Stevens fan but hadn't planned to go to the concert until I saw that ad. Until then, I assumed it would be all Yusef's new material. There was definitely no mention of a musical in the ad. Couldn't afford 2 tickets in the end so I didn't make it but I'm glad now I didn't waste my money!

However, NOTHING excuses the way Yusef was treated and it's typical of a growing subset of Irish who have no manners and drink too much.

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 2:22pm

balla wrote: »

The advertising was misleading so the real issue here is the concert promoters misleading the public to sell tickets. The only ad I saw was in a newspaper a week ago, marketing the concert as a Cat Stevens greatest hits tour.

I'm a big Cat Stevens fan but hadn't planned to go to the concert until I saw that ad. Until then, I assumed it would be all Yusef's new material. There was definitely no mention of a musical in the ad. Couldn't afford 2 tickets in the end so I didn't make it but I'm glad now I didn't waste my money!

However, NOTHING excuses the way Yusef was treated and it's typical of a growing subset of Irish who have no manners and drink too much.

This is the ad:
http://blueroom.o2online.ie/Images/Yusuf_522x338-(1).aspx

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 2:23pm

This is the review in the English 'telegraph' paper.

Yusuf Islam at the O2 Dublin, review
Islam revived his Cat Stevens' hits and previewed a new musical to mixed reactions. Telegraph rating: ****

By Brian Boyd
Published: 11:54AM GMT 16 Nov 2009

Gosh, what a show. There was a standing ovation, disgruntled walk outs, some unfeasibly beautiful music, some "we are bored" slow handclapping plus a surprise appearance by Ronan Keating. Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, must be feeling very confused this morning.
On stage at Dublin's 02 for his first proper series of shows since 1976, Yusuf had to put up with some very churlish and mean-spirited booing from sections of the audience. The huge posters outside read "Yusuf Islam" as did the name on the expensively-priced tickets but about one third of the way through the show, Yusuf decided to present a preview of the forthcoming musical based on his songs. Called "Moonshadow" and due to open in the West End next summer, you would have thought this would have been accepted gratefully as a nice "bonus feature" but the restive audience weren't best pleased.
Featuring a ten strong cast, the actors worked their socks off trying to impress the crowd and while the majority of the audience enjoyed this unexpected offering, loud booing from some sections of the crowd sullied the moment. To be fair, these people had paid to hear Yusuf Islam sing these songs, not a bunch of actors and there were a few angry walk outs. From what we saw of "Moonshadow" though – it looks to be an excellent show in the making.
Picking up in the dissatisfaction in the audience, Yusuf – who is perhaps the most serene frontman around these days – explained that he was merely trying to offer "a show and a half". He then brought his more-than-proficient six piece band back out on to the stage and normal service was resumed. Sounding for all the world like an Essex Willie Nelson, he wrapped that still remarkable vocal around a series of his greatest hits and some newer material. "Moonshadow" and a stomping version of "Peace Train" were real highlights and there was a particular treat for the Dublin audience when Ronan Keating joined him for a duet on "Father and Son" – Boyzone enjoyed a huge hit with an anaemic cover of the song in 1995. It was Keating's first public performance since the death of band mate, Stephen Gatley, who grew up on a street just around the corner from the O2 venue.
As this show goes on to tour the UK, one can only hope that Yusuf retains the "Moonshadow" excerpt as it is a very well-worked (and free) sneak preview of a promising musical. At the end of the show, Yusuf – in a mock melodramatic nod to how another great songwriter once famously upset his audience by offering up something different – wryly said "now I know how Bob Dylan must have felt".

B1G Al · 16-11-2009 2:29pm

I dunno... I think we were all a bit naive about what the show was about. i thought it was a bit strange when I noticed they were selling programmes with cast details and stuff in the foyer before the show. It could have been better advertised. 100e for a preview (of what looks and sounds like a high school musical gig) is a bit steep so I can understand why people were disappointed.
That however was no excuse for the way those on stage were treated. I was down the front and the noise and roaring coming from behind was just like a baying mob. Surreal…
I think yussuf handled it well but maybe should consider his audience. I guess I didn’t really appreciate he’s not Cat Stevens anymore but when he played and sang stuff like ‘lillywhite, ‘moonshadow’ and ‘father & son’ it made it all worthwhile for me. Sure, a few more of the classics would have been great but now I’ve sung ‘don’t be shy’ out loud with Yussuf Islam and that’s something I’m not going to forget J

balla · 16-11-2009 2:40pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

This is the ad:
http://blueroom.o2online.ie/Images/Yusuf_522x338-(1).aspx

I don't remember that being the newspaper ad I saw (I could be wrong), but in any case you'd want pretty good eyesight to see the word "muscial" in the tiny red writing!!! (an intended ploy by the promoters?) Perhaps some people knew that "Moonshadow" was the muscial, but I had never heard of a musical or knew that was the name of it.

To me (and many others, judging from the reaction last night), the words "Moonshadow ...with songs by Cat Stevens" indicated that he would be playing his old stuff.

MMD · 16-11-2009 2:40pm

Interesting Telegraph take on the night.

Would anyone like to hazard a guess/furnish their thoughts on the % of the audience that was dissatisfied with the musical section.

By the loudness of the furore and booing I would estimate perhaps 30/40%. This is purely a guess.

My particular section was quiet, but visibly annoyed amongst themselves, with quite a few leaving very early. The booing seemed very loud throughout other sections the 02, excluding I think, the flat seated section.

where were you all sitting?

On reflection from last night, yes, I agree Yusuf perhaps made an error of judgement in terms of the lenght of the premiere (45 minutes was way too long), and I do suspect that revisions will be made to the show. Let us not forget that this was the opening night too. Not a fantastic way to start your tour in front of that audience, but it may assist tweak the show prior to hitting the UK.

siscri · 16-11-2009 2:53pm

balla wrote: »

To me (and many others, judging from the reaction last night), the words "Moonshadow ...with songs by Cat Stevens" indicated that he would be playing his old stuff.

album-Various-Artists-Here-comesel-Son--Songs-of-The-Beatles-with-a-Cuban-TWIST.jpg

Look...the Beatles are playing.

The musical part was crap but so what? The rest of the gig was very good and he played almost all of the songs you could expect to hear. He didn't deserve to be booed and the rest of the singers didn't deserve to be booed. If you don't like it just leave...and miss the rest of the gig.

delbertgrady · 16-11-2009 3:17pm

balla wrote: »

The only ad I saw was in a newspaper a week ago, marketing the concert as a Cat Stevens greatest hits tour.

Where was this?

balla · 16-11-2009 3:24pm

siscri wrote: »

Look...the Beatles are playing.

Not an equal comparison. If it was a Paul McCartney concert, and the ad said "Here comes the sun .... songs by the Beatles". Would you not expect Beatles songs? Anyway I'm not criticising the concert or Yusef. Just the promoters misleading ads.

Anyway, as I said already, I'm pretty sure the ad I saw mentioned Cat Stevens hits. It was in the Irish Times Weekend Review probably Sat 7th Nov (or Sun 8th).

carpedeum · 16-11-2009 3:27pm

We got our tickets sometime ago and the musical was clearly advertised! We knew that some classics would not feature because of Yusuf's change in beliefs.

The musical did go on for too long and we wanted Yusuf to sing those songs sung by the actors. However, there was no excuse for the heckling, booing and slow handclappling. Some people beside us, mid 50ish, were knocking back the booze and were effing and shouting! We felt embarassed as Irish people. 15 mins of the musical would have been sufficient though.

The worst moment was when the gougers booed when he announced that he was going to sing a new composition! I have never heard this reaction to new material at any other gig including Springsteen, Christy Moore, U2 etc.

I wonder how much of the carry-on was due to people just venting their frustration at the mess the country is in!

It wasn't a classic concert, but, let's face it, Cat Stevens is long gone.

P.S. Credit to Harry Crosbie on the new Point.

ScouseMouse · 16-11-2009 3:30pm

I for one, was extremely disappointed at the whole thing.

Showcasing his new musical in the middle of it for nearly three quarters of an hour was a big mistake. I felt embaressed, as I told my wife it was going to be a good show.

I paid 200 euro for 2 tickets and 50 for a babysitter.

Pretty much a waste of money.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 16-11-2009 3:31pm

MMD wrote: »

By the loudness of the furore and booing I would estimate perhaps 30/40%. This is purely a guess.

I'd say thats probably a pretty good guess.

I rang the O2 at lunch time today, spoke to a lovely girl who explained that they've been inundated with complaints about the show and suggested I contact POD entertainments.

I rang POD who in turn said I must put my complaint into them in writing, including either my tickets or scan's of them to;

POD Entertainment.
Complaint Dept.
39 Lower Leeson St.
Dublin 2.

Of course I'll demand a refund, but in reality I'm expecting nothing however my complaint, disappointment & annoyance will go further than whinging about it here on boards.ie.

It was a terribly, terribly gig.

Genuinely, I feel so sorry for Yusef Islam too.

I've grown up listening to his beautiful music and believe him to be a genuinely soft, tender, beautiful person who didn't need or deserve to hear the abuse shouted at him.

But dammit, after last night it will be a long time before I listen to his music again - I want to forget the whole affair and put it down to a very bad & expensive experience.

balla · 16-11-2009 3:48pm

Ok guys. Here you have it.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2009/1107/Pg023.html#Ad02302:25815C29418029F15C32B180

Now tell me this is not misleading advertising

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 3:50pm

Khloe Gifted Boot wrote: »

I'd say thats probably a pretty good guess.

I rang the O2 at lunch time today, spoke to a lovely girl who explained that they've been inundated with complaints about the show and suggested I contact POD entertainments.

I rang POD who in turn said I must put my complaint into them in writing, including either my tickets or scan's of them to;
POD Entertainment.
Complaint Dept.
39 Lower Leeson St.
Dublin 2.

Of course I'll demand a refund, but in reality I'm expecting nothing however my complaint, disappointment & annoyance will go further than whinging about it here on boards.ie.

It was a terribly, terribly gig.

Genuinely, I feel so sorry for Yusef Islam too.

I've grown up listening to his beautiful music and believe him to be a genuinely soft, tender, beautiful person who didn't need or deserve to hear the abuse shouted at him.

But dammit, after last night it will be a long time before I listen to his music again - I want to forget the whole affair and put it down to a very bad & expensive experience.

You got a full concert PLUS a chunk of a musical thrown in.
Whay on earth would you expect a refund ?

It's a shocking indictment of the Irish gene pool that people such as you exist on our wee island.
"I demand a refund as I got more than I paid for!"

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 3:51pm

balla wrote: »

Ok guys. Here you have it.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2009/1107/Pg023.html#Ad02302:25815C29418029F15C32B180

Now tell me this is not misleading advertising

You're ignoring the bit on the right

"Including Special premiere Showcase of the Musical Moonshadow"

balla · 16-11-2009 3:53pm

I quote
"Back in concert after 33 years.
Singing all of Cat Stevens' Greatest Hits"

Shame on you concert promoters. Blatant lies and misleading advertising because the concert was not selling out as fast as you thought it would so you decided to lie to sell the rest of the tickets.
This is the ONLY ad I saw and was what made me want to go to the concert!!! (which I didn't in the end as we couldn't pay over 150 euro for 2 tickets) but I am so glad I didn't.

This criticism is totally against the promoters not Yusef.....

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 3:53pm

superscouse wrote: »

I for one, was extremely disappointed at the whole thing.

Showcasing his new musical in the middle of it for nearly three quarters of an hour was a big mistake. I felt embaressed, as I told my wife it was going to be a good show.

I paid 200 euro for 2 tickets and 50 for a babysitter.

Pretty much a waste of money.

Unless you are one of the morons who left early, you saw a full gig, and you saw a chunk of a musical.

If you only expected the concert - you got that.
How could that possibly be a waste of money?
You got what you paid for.. plus more?

balla · 16-11-2009 3:55pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

You're ignoring the bit on the right

"Including Special premiere Showcase of the Musical Moonshadow"

Well as I said already, in a smaller version of this ad, as was in the Times, the word "muscial" was barely visible. I did not see it.

shampoosuicide · 16-11-2009 3:56pm

balla wrote: »

Well as I said already, in a smaller version of this ad, as was in the Times, the word "muscial" was barely visible. I did not see it.

you should have gone to Specsavers

siscri · 16-11-2009 3:59pm

balla wrote: »

I quote
"Back in concert after 33 years.
Singing all of Cat Stevens' Greatest Hits"

You're right...he didn't play every single one of his songs. I don't remember going to a gig where the artist played every song I wanted him to play.

Out of interest, what did he not play that you wanted, and did that justify booing him? Surely people should have booed when he finished the concert rather than in the middle?

shampoosuicide · 16-11-2009 4:01pm

i think this is what happens when you go to a gig and think you have a divine right to hear the songs YOU want to hear and not what the artist wants to perform. it's a bit silly really, they're not performing monkeys. i go to gigs regularly and i often come away slightly disappointed they haven't played my favourite songs, but i still pay them full attention and often it's the unexpected song that bowls you over.

however, at the risk of sounding like a knob, i suspect the kind of people booing are the sort who buy one album a year and see the event as a big day out rather than an opportunity to hear a talented artist perform the material that they're currently invested in

balla · 16-11-2009 4:04pm

Anyway apart from the musical, how can anyone who saw that Irish Times ad have expected that the rest of the show would be anything other than a greatest hits show????

balla · 16-11-2009 4:09pm

Can you not get the point that the promoters were misleading the public? Blatantly mentioning "greatest hits" as if it was a greatest hits show.

And no, nothing justified booing him. I'm appalled at hearing about people's behaviour. I just think that promoters should be held accountable and people who felt they were misled deserve a refund.

MMD · 16-11-2009 4:12pm

I wonder how much of the carry-on was due to people just venting their frustration at the mess the country is in!

[/quote]

I think this point is worth discussing, not because it is necessarily accurate, but for the underlying reasons.

The frustration of the audience last night was borne out due to the fact that people paid a very high ticket price for what in fact was a very good show with an naive over-long west end sandwich filling.

Entertainment is escapism. Yes, people also look for value for money, particularly in economically challenging times, and in these times, do have to pick carefully the shows they really want to see and sacrafice others, therefore, what occured last night in my opinion, was perhaps the one show of the year that some people chose to go to, but did not feel they got value for money/what they wanted due to miscommunication/false advertising or whatever.

Further, people were not expecting the duration of the musical section of the show to be that long. Regardless of what other posters say about the fact that this was advertised, did anyone really expect Yusuf not to be on stage for most of the 45 minutes that this segment lasted? More than likely not. A lot of people at that show last night would have given their right arm to hear Yusuf sing for example wild world live in an arena setting for the first time in years and not the cast member he had on stage singing it instead.

However, all of this has to be countered with the fact that there is no substitute for good manners either. People around me were shocked and angry yes, and politely conversed with their neighbours about the segment but no one was rude enough to shout/groan/holler.

siscri · 16-11-2009 4:14pm

But what constitutes a Greatest Hits tour? He played everything I wanted except Wild World and maybe Another Saturday Night.
What did you want that he didn't play?

Can someone get me a setlist?

boarddotie · 16-11-2009 4:15pm

Sonic_exyouth wrote: »

:rolleyes:
Keating sang Father and son - Who sang Moonshadow?

If you are askiing who sang in the musical part as far as I heard the Noel guy from Hear'say was in it somewhere along the line.

As for all the booing....a bit like an X Factor show...its just the way things have gone in the music world these days

MMD · 16-11-2009 4:22pm

siscri wrote: »

But what constitutes a Greatest Hits tour? He played everything I wanted except Wild World and maybe Another Saturday Night.
What did you want that he didn't play?

He played what I wanted to hear anyways for the most part....I think I see the light was magic and the one song I really really wanted to hear.

Would have loved to have seen Wild World and morning has broken though also.

No setlist up on setlistfm.com as of yet.

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 4:23pm

siscri wrote: »

But what constitutes a Greatest Hits tour? He played everything I wanted except Wild World and maybe Another Saturday Night.
What did you want that he didn't play?

Can someone get me a setlist?

The set list was as follows:
Lilywhite
The Wind
Thinking ‘Bout You
Where Do The Children Play
Boots & Sand
Fill My Eyes
Roadsinger
Midday (Avoid City After Dark)
Sitting
I Think I See The Light

[Interval]
“Moonshadow” the Musical – Exclusive Preview
Introduced by Yusuf – When a Door Closes, World of Darkness

Miles from Nowhere
Don’t Be Shy
Glass World
Bad Brakes
Moonshadow
Peace Train
All Kinds of Roses
Lilywhite (2009)
Tuesday’s Dead
Father and Son (with Ronan Keating)
http://www.yusufislam.com/news/

John Mason · 16-11-2009 4:31pm

balla wrote: »

Can you not get the point that the promoters were misleading the public? Blatantly mentioning "greatest hits" as if it was a greatest hits show.

And no, nothing justified booing him. I'm appalled at hearing about people's behaviour. I just think that promoters should be held accountable and people who felt they were misled deserve a refund.

i dont mean to be rude but werent even at the concert, so how can you comment?

i was there and i enjoyed it. i didnt go to see Cat Stevens, i went to see Yusuf Islam. I really wanted to hear Wild World, he didnt do it but so what, i have been to loads of concerts where they havent played the songs i wanted to hear. Example, i went to see John Squire and all i wanted to hear were stone roses songs but they are two different entities the same as Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam.

And you would have to be living under a rock if you didnt know he was showcasing his musical.

it was a good concerted but was ruined by 30% of people. my heart when out to him on stage.

I agree, the musical went on a little bit longer then it should have but i enjoyed. You still got your full concert and bit extra.

siscri · 16-11-2009 4:39pm

That is an impressive setlist and in my opinion worthy of being called a Greatest Hits tour. And I got to see a sh!t musical for free. I'm happy.

delbertgrady · 16-11-2009 4:46pm

There is also the argument to be made that what some people regard as well-known songs, i.e. "Greatest Hits" of sorts, will not necessarily be recognised by everyone. It works both ways: the seminal "Cat Stevens Greatest Hits" album from 1975 (the one with the flag on the cover) doesn't include The Wind, Where Do the Children Play or Tuesday's Dead, which I would regard as being quite well known, even to fair-weather Cat Stevens fans, and would certainly be played on the radio.
Anyone familiar with the studio albums from the seventies would have been more than happy to hear Lilywhite, I Think I See the Light, Fill My Eyes, etc.
However, those with only a passing interest who went expecting to hear most of the songs from that Greatest Hits album would have only got four songs from it (Sitting, Moonshadow, Peace Train, Father and Son), so may well have felt very short-changed.
Nevertheless, none of this excuses the behaviour of some people in the auditorium.

BaZmO* · 16-11-2009 4:47pm

irishbird wrote: »

Example, i went to see John Squire and all i wanted to hear were stone roses songs but they are two different entities the same as Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam.

Not really comparing like for like though. One was in a band that split up, the other is a solo artist that just changed his name.
Plus, you were being very optimistic expected to see Squire playing Stone Roses songs. You'd need to go to an Ian Brown gig for that.

Sonic_exyouth · 16-11-2009 4:50pm

From the times:
(Thats the UK Times)
It’s hard to imagine a singer less likely to cause a rift in a crowd than the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. Yet on the debut date of his first tour in 33 years, Yusuf Islam saw fans storm out and heard two of his best-known songs spoiled by booing. Those he didn’t disappoint showed their support with a standing ovation. “Now I know what Dylan felt like,” laughed a disappointed Islam in an attempt to diffuse the tension. An artist as famous for his spirituality as his songs had tested his fans and found some of them wanting.

90 minutes earlier, Islam had sauntered on stage strumming a guitar and delivered an hour of pretty folk-pop that could hardly have been less controversial. Sounding like a serene preacher and looking like a gentle geography teacher, the grey-haired, grey-bearded singer started solo with "Lilywhite" in front a giant backdrop of an urban alleyway, surrounded by packing crates and a Victorian-style street lamp.

Joined first by his 1970s sidekick Alun Davies on guitar, then gradually a full band, Islam was initially revered by the entire audience. They applauded songs from his current album, "Roadsinger", as loudly as they did tracks from seminal albums "Tea For The Tillerman" and "Teaser And The Firecat". They tutted at his tale of the authorities who, five years ago, refused him entry in to the States and even clapped along to the song the incident inspired,"Boots And Sand", despite its clearly poor quality.

The bad vibes began when Islam paused his performance for a 40 minute preview of his forthcoming musical, "Moonshadow". A cast led by former Hear’say singer Noel Sullivan trouped on to act, dance and deliver a mix of new material and the Cat Stevens classics "Father & Son" and "Wild World". By the latter, streams of people were walking out, dismayed at Islam for handing over his hits.

In truth, the musical segment lasted far too long and was confusingly introduced. In London’s West End, where it is due to open next year, "Moonshadow" could go down a storm. In front of an audience who had come to hear Islam trawl his back catalogue, it was never going to work.
The bulk of the audience, however, remained for a final segment of the show that began on shaky ground – they groaned as Islam introduced more new songs and pulled a plucky Sullivan back on to duet – but ended on a high with a lengthy, rocky rendition of "Peace Train".

As fans began to file out, Islam had to halt them with the promise of a second encore. During a spine-tingling "Father and Son", he was joined by an unshaven Ronan Keating and the crowd roared with delight. Home-time then was happy, though this gig was a bumpy ride.
Tour continues at the NIA, Birmingham (Nov 23), Echo Arena, Liverpool (Dec 5), Royal Albert Hall, London (Dec 8).
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article6918682.ece

B1G Al · 16-11-2009 4:54pm

siscri wrote: »

That is an impressive setlist and in my opinion worthy of being called a Greatest Hits tour. And I got to see a sh!t musical for free. I'm happy.

+1

Cat Stevens at the O2 in November..

Comments