ShareMike + The Mechanics performing their Looking Back (Over My Shoulder) 2019 Tour at The Royal Concert Hall Nottingham on Sunday 10th March 2019
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
The lack of a support act surprised some people last night as Mike + The Mechanics delayed their start at the Royal Concert Hall, to allow them to leave the bar and get to their seats for the start of what was a fantastic evening of magical music.
Being a member of one of the biggest bands in history, Genesis founder Mike Rutherford set up this highly successful sideline which has gone on to release nine albums and sell over ten million records worldwide. And in the absence of the late Paul Young and Paul Carrack this present line up included one of the UK’s most successful R & B acts, Andrew Roachford and Canadian born actor and singer Tim Howar, and with them sharing vocal duties, the performance was impeccable.
Greeted by the physical image of four hot air balloons featuring some of the early Mechanics album covers, Howar started the first of two sets with a powerful The Best Is Yet To Come, before Roachford added his own bit of soulfulness with Another Cup Of Coffee.
From then on there were lots of Mechanics hits, some stuff from Rutherford’s days in Genesis and then a blast of pure Roachford with his massive 1989 hit Cuddly Toy which got a rapturous reception. With Howar backing up his suave dance moves with his wonderful vocal tone, clapping and bouncing to the infectious chorus of Silent Running, his enthusiasm kept the crowd on their feet.
Even the new songs from their latest album, Out Of The Blue were very well received with the catchy One Way and the lovely What Would You Do.
There was the irrepressible All I Need Is A Miracle and the timeless The Living Years. A Beggar On A Beach Of Gold was dedicated to the late Paul Young and Genesis songs, Land Of Confusion and I Can’t Dance had the crowd standing in appreciation.
A lingering Word Of Mouth ended the proceedings from an insanely talented bunch of musicians with Howar leading the sing along from the front, and with arms aloft the crowd went home still singing.
