Dr. Hook starring Dennis Locorriere performing their Timeless World Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Saturday 9th December 2017.


Images and Review by Kevin Cooper

In 1972 Dennis Locorriere asked Sylvia’s mother if he could say goodbye to her but he ran out of money on the payphone before he could persuade her. Fast forward to 2017 and he is still asking her and as a packed Royal Concert Hall sang along with him last night, you would have thought that she would have had a change of heart by now.

Little has changed about the former Dr Hook front man; he still has long hair, a fine beard, an instantly recognisable gravelly voice, and with a career that has stretched back over five decades, he stood on the stage as if he were a towering colossus but one filled with humility and a bucketful of self depreciation and humour.

With several solo albums and an abundance of songs by Dr Hook at his disposal, there would always be someone who would have been disappointed that he didn’t play their favourite one. But what he sang for the crowd was beautiful, gracious and good natured. With a tight six piece band, songs such as The Cover Of The Rolling Stone, Queen Of The Silver Dollar, the exquisite If Not You and a wonderful cover of his mentor, the late Shel Silversteen’s The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan, were all greeted by the crowd like old friends.

With the evening having been split into two, there was so much to take from this show. Starting the second half with an acoustic version of the wacky Freakin’ At The Freaker’s Ball and Shine Son, he took the time to say that this tour was supporting Child Line Rocks and the NSPCC and to ask for donations.

He couldn’t leave the stage without treating this audience to massive sing alongs Sexy Eyes, When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman and the show stopping Sylvia’s Mother, and there had been more than enough to keep everyone happy.