Concert review :
Wembley Arena, London, UK - 8 February 2001
by Leanna

We got to Wembley arena at about 6:45pm and after finding the rest of the gang at the front of the Green side cue, we walked round to cue up at the red side. My first impression of the night was 'blimey, look how many people there are out here!!' I've been to quite a few concerts at the blessed arena but i don't recall seeing so many people cueing outside like this before. They let the seated people in first then gradually the standing folk were let in. With a blue band upon our wrist and a body/bag search out of the way we made for the merchandise stand. They had various items including black 'Shelvis' t-shirts (about £15 i think), a black Texas skinny T top (which i wanted but NOT for £18!!), a red wooly Texas hat (about £10 i think), a lovely beige coloured bucket hat for about £15 and a GORGEOUS green coloured hooded top with a hand warmer section on the front for £35. Expensive but i got one of the hooded tops! Oh, and of course, the obligatory tour book for £8.

Semisonic were supporting and came on stage about 7:30 ish and finished about 8:15pm. I'm not a big Semisonic fan but they did play well, didn't realise just how many of their tunes i knew.
When they left the stage everything seemed to open up, the stage looked large when they were on, but when they left it grew to almost half the size again as the sides were pulled back to reveal Mark #1's decks, Eddie's keyboards and the spare guitar rack. Also, a thin white sheeting fell down from the roof at the front of the stage. Everything behind it was still visible but slightly obscurred. Of course this all helped to build the excitement of what was soon to be!

It was at this point i decided to have a look around at the seating etc to see how full it was and, i don't exagerate, the place was packed. Only occaisionally did i catch site of a lone orange chair. However, it seemed they would be filled soon as my friend Ian came back from the tiolet and said it was 'heaving out there' in the lobby areas.

It reached 9pm and we knew they must be about ready to come out. AT LAST! The almost erie echo of Zero Zero filled the air. Behind the white sheeting the guys hit the stage to great cheers. Would they follow that with 'In our Lifetime' as before? Nope! In Demand began to play and the sheeting fell to the ground. There was Shar, wearing tight shiny trousers (although they could have been stretch jeans) coloured bluey grey and a grey, oriental styled top with red beading. The hair is still long but has a trimmed fringe and the ends look a bit irregular like when they cut in to the hair upwards. Perhaps an unusual starting song i though, although saying that, 'in our life time, the old starting track from the hush tour, is also a middle tempo song - not rocking but not a ballad. It was a kind of 'hello and welcome to the show!' kind of feel. They followed this with 'Black eyed boy' and out came the guitar, THAT guitar, the infamous black and white Telecaster we all know and love which is always the loyalist of fans cue to JUMP!

Sounding as fresh, strong and lively as ever - but wait, who was playing the drums?? Not Mykey, but a new guy, going by the name of Steve who WASN'T introduced to us at all that night by Shar (or anyone else) and apparently only had 2 days to rehearse for the tour! He had the same set-up as Mykey, only one mounted tom, an array of cymbals which included an unusual 2 china cymbals and a click pad on his bass drum. His style was very similar to Mykeys but he played a lot of double time on the high-hat, not really necesary for the sound of the songs, more like making work for himself! I can't remember the exact order of songs so i'll just have to give brief comments on the songs as individuals. 'Halo', 'Summer Son' - both as rocking as ever and again much jumping! 'Guitar song' - didn't know what to expect from this seeing how it's a new song and hasn't really been played live before this tour - sounded EXCELLENT. Shar played a browny coloured guitar, much like Ally's traditionally chosen tool, really reminded me of the old style guitars they used to play in Elvis's day....(hint hint for later). Shar converts back to the old 12 string acoustic for her solo rendition of 'Put your arms around me'. A chance to show that the guitars she wears aren't just for show, she plays it perfectly and at no falter to the incredibly strong vocal skill required for that song.

'Insane' with the loopy finger twirling at the sides of her head during the 'insane, insane, insane...' chorus, 'I don't want a lover' played, as Shar pointed out almost 12 years to the day that it was originally released 'that's not bad is it? You can get rid of us!', 'In our lifetime' with Mark #1 flexing his mixing muscles, 'Prayer for you' sporting the new 'oooooo' backing vocals as heard on the Greatest Hits album but NOT on the Ricks Road version.

A surprise moment next - Shar talks to the audience and singles out a guy that she says has been 'shouting and whistling all night'. To the crowds' delight (and if they're honest jealousy!) she pulls up a guy from the audience on stage. A Spanish guy, who's name escapes me, is asked if he can dance to which he naturally says 'yes'. They then go in to a brand new cover, 'Pull up to my bumper' by the always scary Grace Jones. Those who know the song can instantly realise that there will be much grinding and swaying to follow. Covered by rap star Patra a while back, the song has a very sexy, winding style and beat, perfect for the sexy dancing that was to follow. Shar lead the guy around the stage, stopping every now and then to wind up against him. There were some occasions where it looked like the guy got a bit too excited and perhaps moved his hands around a little bit too near to where he shouldn't and i was half expecting Shar to get rid of him but he seemed quick to mend his ways! He also appeared more interested in dancing with the backing singers and Shar even had to shout out to him 'Oi come over here!' at one point, very amusing!

They said goodnight and left the stage although we all knew it wasn't the end yet! Some movement at the back of the stage revealed itself as they came back on in front of a massive TEXAS glowing behind them in red lights. Shar was changed in to her 'Inner Smile' black leather outfit, alas with no sideburns but she did have time to tie her hair back (i wondered why she had an elastic band on her wrist before for - she does it herself then!). 'Inner smile' went down a storm and ended with floods of cheering and applause - funny how the current singles evoke that from people. Surely she hadn;t changed in to the leather JUST for inner smile?? Course not! This was closely followed a cover of 'Suspicious minds' by the King himself, Mr Elvis Presley. It seems Shar was really in to the Elvis part as she covered the stage to reach everyone in the venue and often paused with arms out-stretched to soak up the adoration. They disappeared again, but why some people started to move i don't know. We hadn't heard 'Say what you want' yet! Back on stage, so that's 2, count them 2, encores. Mark #1 fires up the beat with Steve and on with the show. Those who have seen Texas a few times will have cottoned on to the fact that they always play the normal run of SWYW, then bring it right down to allow the crowd to sing it, bring it back up then launch in to the Wu Tang mix of the song. If we weren't knackered enough there was MORE jumping to be had joined with the arm waving 'woo woo' with Shar until the end of the song.

Riotous applause and cheers swamped Wembley arena as they regretable left the stage for the last time. No doubt we would have kept bringing them back on all night with encores but SWYW is always the signing off song, that fact along with the lights going up signals the definate end of the show. You always expect the best from a band that can play live at the drop of a hat, ooze with style and talent, and amaze you with their freindliness and genuine attitude if ever you get the chance to talk to them in person - and you got just that. A fantastic night courtesy of a fantastic band - THANKYOU AGAIN TEXAS!!!!!


Back to the Articles page

Back to the Articles & Concert Reviews main page

If you don't see a toolbar on the left then please click here