The gig was billed as a celebration of Robyn's seventieth birthday.

The venue was the wonderful Alexandra Palace Theatre. A separate venue located within the grounds of the Alexandra Palace Complex, which houses a major music and sport venue, and an ice rink. The Theatre reopened when it was refurbished in 2018 after a hiatus of eighty years!

The support act was a solo spot by Alexis Taylor of the London synthpop band 'Hot Chip'. I would describe Alexis's style as 'Minimalist Dance/Soul/Indie'. For me an interesting genre I've not heard before. The band featured Alexis on Vocals and Keys, a Harpist, a Bassist, and a Drummer. I'm intrigued to check out more of Alexis's stuff as well as some Hot Chip material. Robyn later thanked Alexis for supporting him, noting that Alexis had 'come all the way from Muswell Hill'. The audience laughed, as the area is only one mile away from Alexandra Palace!

Robyn took the stage with the following band:
Robyn on Electric Guitar and Lead Vocal
Terry Edwards on Electric Guitar
Mark Bedford on Bass
Morris Windsor on Drums and Backing Vocals

Robyn was not as talkative between songs as many other gigs. He introduced the band as 'his 'froleagues' over the 'mikenia' ever elusive, with chords played by stiffening digits'

Oceanside
The Cars She Used to Drive
Acid Bird
Airscape
Goodnight Oslo
So You Think You're in Love

(Mark Bedford then moved to Double Bass, Terry Edwards moved to keys, and Robyn to acoustic guitar and vocals)
Robyn then told the crowd that the soundman was 'an entity known as Francis'

Old Man Weather
No, I Don't Remember Guildford

(Emma Swift joins on Backing Vocals)

Glass Hotel
The Man Who Loves the Rain

(Emma Swift exits, Kimberley Rew enters on Guitar and Backing Vocals)

Old Brown Shoe (The Beatles Cover) Robyn said that the song was 'In honour of George Harrison's birthday today'

Mark Bedford and Terry Edwards exit, Lee Cave-Berry (Kimberley Rew's partner) enters on bass:

Tonight
It Sounds Great When You're Dead
Kingdom of Love
The Sir Tommy Shovel
(I Want to Be) An Anglepoise Lamp
Midnight Tram to Nowhere

(Robyn said this song was a reference to Margaret Thatcher where 'fewer people are required to do more work')
(Terry Edwards on Guitar and Mark Bedford on Bass join everyone else on stage. There's now a total of three guitarists (including Robyn) and two bassists!)

I Wanna Destroy You

Robyn mentioned that the next song was a 'hymn of praise' and we must 'watch Morrissey's knee for the songs tempo':

The Shuffleman (Terry Edwards moved from guitar to Maracas)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Beatles Cover) Robyn said this was 'the last cover of the night' and it was 'for George' (Terry Edwards moved from Maracas to Keys)
Queen of Eyes

Matt E

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I thought you all might like to hear about a fantastic gig at London's Alexandra Palace Theatre on Saturday night. It was a superb show in a lovely setting in front of a full house. The band comprised Kimberley Rew, Morris Windsor, Terry Edwards, Mark Bedford, Lee Cave-Berry and Emma Swift. There was a great mix of Soft Boys, Egyptians and solo stuff including four songs from the new album. Because it was George Harrison's birthday they played a couple of his Beatles songs including While My Guitar Gently Weeps, which featured a sensational solo from Kim which was worth the admission fee alone. This is the full setlist:

Oceanside/The Cars She Used To Drive/ Acid Bird/Airscape/Goodnight Oslo/So You Think You're In Love/Old Man Weather/No, I Don't Remember Guildford/Glass Hotel/The Man Who Loves The Rain/Old Brown Shoe/Tonight/It Sounds Great When You're Dead/Kingdom Of Love/The Sir Tommy Shovell/I Want To Be An Anglepoise Lamp/Midnight Tram To Nowhere/I Wanna Destroy You/The Shuffleman/While My Guitar Gently Weeps/The Queen Of Eyes.

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Life-affirming stuff from the man with the lightbulb head.

Nominally a 70th Birthday show, but no sign of cake. Able abetment by all.
Beatle George ended up with the biggest Birthday bumps in the end.
Then we all disappeared down the nearest tube.

Happy Seventieth Birthday Mr Hitchcock!