Elly Roberts reviews

Paul Rodgers catalogue: Rating: 10/10 British blues-rock icon Paul Rodgers is still going strong on his UK Tour 2006. In fact, the legendary singer’s voice is in great shape. This night at the Lyric Theatre, he rolled back the years backed by his sensational all-American band – 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 commercial renaissance via the release of the outstanding Free Forever DVD, Free's Chronicles and Free's Live At The BBC CDs. With the added benefit of leading Queen last year, all things are pointing towards Rodgers once again.

This outstanding gig was a memorable night in many ways. Going back to the early '70s when I saw Free at the Boxing Arena in Liverpool, this was very much a sentimental event. Thrilled at seeing him once again, and meeting him after the show, it brought back floods of memories from that night when a music-mad teenager went to his first rock gig at the age of 16. Arguably one of the greatest voices of all time, he’s proving he can still cut the mustard at the age of 56. The setlist, drawn mostly from his Free days, some Bad Company and solo releases, the seasoned veteran went all out to impress - and how.

As the white spotlight draped him, he opened with soulful funky bass-led I’ll Be Creepin’ with greetings engulfing the venue. Parading the stage to engage his fans, he was out to have good night, spinning and lofting his mic stand. Free’s All Right Now follow-up flop, The Stealer cranked up the pace with the band showing their collective credentials. Two gems followed – Pony and one of Free’s most treasured songs, the haunting Be My Friend. Dropping in “work-in-progress” War Boys (A Prayer For Peace), he encouraged the crowd to stand and party, though that would take a bit longer to take effect. When Feel Like Making Love arrived three dancers popped up at the stage front, which clearly delighted Rodgers. Moving to tinkle the grand piano, Rodgers launched into the rock blast of Bad Company. A song with The Maytals, Smile, recorded in Jamaica, was considerably beefed-up for purpose, as mesmerising 17 year old Dengler and slick Leese went head-to-head on solos.

The three song run-in became the crowing glory. Fire And Water raised the stakes. The opening of Wishing Well brought the long overdue party atmosphere, raising the roof. Then Rodgers asked, "Are you reaaaaaaady ?" "Yes we’re reaaaaady", we replied to the drumstick countdown of All Right Now. Chords blasting out, the story of the boy-meets-girl pickup sent the crowd wild. Leese’s solo (a match for Kossoff’s any day), was the defining highlight of the show. Rodgers even managed to let us sing the chorus a few times on our own, to everyone’s delight. A change of T-shirt for the finale, more thrills followed. Hendrix’s Little Wing was superb (more dazzling work from Dengler) as was sexy rocker I’m 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 a triumphant return to Manchester. Weblinks: Paul Rodgers.com / Noble PR.co.uk

The set-list.

Elly Roberts with Paul Rodgers.