Thea Gilmore was absolutely amazing at Zodiac in Oxford on Friday night and I had a wonderful time with Ian and his friend Andrey
Zodiac is a great music venue but it is situated on Cowley Road. Let’s just say it’s one of the more colourful areas in Oxford, a street where ordinary, sensible people usually fear to tread (especially after dark).
Anyway, we arrived early and were eventually allowed in after a bizzare airport style interrogation by some mean looking bouncers. (Are these two gentlemen yours? Have they been out of your sight at any time? Have they paid you for their tickets? etc). Thankfully I must have answered all my questions correctly because we were suddenly released and allowed to squeeze through the tiny turnstile.
Once inside, we were pleased to find that things were much friendlier. Thea was playing in a room upstairs which has a capacity of 450. And luckily we were able to nab prime spots at the front of the stage before the place filled up.
The support act Dan Arborise played for about 30 minutes and he was quite good. He’s great when he’s singing but his guitar playing takes up most of each song and just seems to go on and on for ever. The last song was the worst. Ian had already warned us about it but I still thought it was never going to end.
There was a short break to allow for set up etc but excitement really started to mount as soon as the band took to the stage. Then Thea herself strode out to thunderous applause only to slip and fall head first across the stage. There was a sort of stunned silence for a few seconds (remember she’s 7 months pregnant) as she crashed down onto her hands and knees but it was soon obvious that she hadn’t hurt herself. Phew! Not exactly the entrance she had hoped for but other than looking a bit embarrassed she seemed to see the funny side of it.
Thea was dressed in jeans and a skin tight black top which showed off her bump magnificently. And there was a lovely moment near the start when she patted her stomach and turned from side to side, grinning and said ‘ I’ve brought a friend along with me.’
The setlist was fabulous, a good mix of Harpo’s Ghost and old favourites. So we were treated to - Call Me Your Darling, Have You Heard, Contessa, Cheap Tricks, Everybody’s Numb, Juliet, Crazy Love, The List, Holding Your Hand, Slow Journey II, Red White and Black, This Girl Is Taking Bets, We Built A Monster, Rags and Bones, Mainstream, Play Until The Bottles Gone and Heart String Blues amongst others.
Thea had to leave the stage mid way through the set for a comfort break (when a pregnant woman’s got to go, she’s got to go) but the band carried on with Nigel Stonier on vocals. The band were fabulous throughout and as for Thea, she was on fire. She was simply magnificent.
Thanks to my hero, Ian, I secured one of the setlists at the end of the gig and Thea kindly signed it for me. So I couldn’t have been happier. And as we left, believe it or not, we were all given a free DVD. It was a three track acoustic performance from Harpo’s Ghost featuring Cheap Tricks, Everybody’s Numb, and Red, White & Black. And it’s wonderful, I’ve watched it tons of times already. I love it.
Ian and Andrey both took some photos and captured some footage so I’m eagerly awaiting the results. And Andrey was even approached by a reviewer from BBC Oxford asking to use some of his photos. So I shall be checking out the BBC Oxford website as well!
If Thea is performing anywhere near you, I urge you to go and see her. You won’t be disappointed. I’ll certainly be attending another gig before the end of this tour if I possibly can.
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:27 am
Disaster struck on the way to Bilston tonight (in the form of a mechanical breakdown), so I didn't get to see the Alex Harvey Band or to meet Andrey for a second time.