AN EVENING WITH RONNIE WOOD - "I FEEL LIKE PLAYING"
Ronnie and friends played an intimate live performance
of his new album ‘I Feel Like Playing’ at The Ambassadors Theatre on Tuesday October 19th 2010. Below is our exclusive report of the evening...enjoy!
"It's a cold October night in Soho, fortunately the worst of the rain has now passed and as the crowd grows outside the famous Ambassadors Theatre the excitement grows towards the main event of the night.
For tonight, for one night only, the “fourth” Stone is preparing for a night of jamming with some old mates and some new tunes.
As the theatre steadily fills with the evening’s lucky punters, the chatter grows, as old acquaintances become reacquainted, Stones fans, Faces fans, Birds fans but most of all Ronnie fans.
Looking across the auditorium you can but wonder how many collective hours this bunch of music lovers have spent enjoying the sound of Ronnie and his various bands. There are the hardcore, dressed to impress, head to toe in Stones regalia. There are the suits that have grown old gracefully but you imagine they've had it disgracefully in their time, there are the families perhaps sharing a concert for the first time.
The stage looks fantastic with the bands gear set up against the backdrop of resident show, Stomp. The post-apocalyptic junkyard climbing high on scaffold strangely works with Ronnie’s stunning artwork draped 10 foot high in front.
There are also a few faces from the echelons of rock's history scattered about the place, but whoever they are, where ever they are from, tonight they are here to see one man... Mr Ronald Wood.
As the house lights dim, an unexpected face appears on stage, known to most as Sex in the City's Mr Big aka Chris Noth, actor, music fan, club owner and all round top chap.
After a rousing introduction, enter stage left, the man himself looking ever the part head to toe in black with some very cool I Feel Like Playing custom sneakers. Ronnie is in fine fettle, thanking Chris for breaking from shooting Law & Order to introduce him on stage.
Joined by the night’s all star band, drum legend Andy Newmark, The Black Swan Effect’s Jesse Wood on bass, Adam Greene of Saint Jude on guitar, Stones backing vocalist Bernard Fowler on and Andy Wallace on keys, Ronnie launches into new album rocker “Thing About You”.
With a quick change to electric sitar and some seriously heavy bass from Jesse, the band roll straight in to “100%”.
A few words of introduction from Ronnie and we’re joined by Stereophonics front man, Kelly Jones, fresh from a sellout show at Hammersmith Apollo. Jones accompanies with a Gibson Super Jumbo and provides backup vocals on “Why You Wanna Go and Do A Thing Like That For”
Big cheer for the next track “Lucky Man” as Ronnie comments “I guess I am one...” Bernard steps forward with beautifully soulful backing vocals.
The good humour continues as Ronnie asks the crowd “Are you enjoying it? You better be, we ain’t half been working hard!” Then it’s to the church we go with the gospel infused “I Gotta See” with preacher backing again from Bernard.
A break in proceedings follows as Ronnie introduces us to his band and then welcomes on to the stage “the little ants” that will be joining the band temporarily. They arrive in the form of the guys and gals from Stomp, appearing high and low, from left and right, taking positions suspended high above the players.
With bass so funky it wouldn’t be out of place in Newmark’s previous band Sly and the Family Stone, the band schlep into “Spoonful” with the Stomp kids accompanying the drum and bass superbly from their aerial positions.
From funk to roots next as the Stomp guys disappear off like Spidermen and the band are joined by soul sisters, Beverly Knight and Mica Paris for “Sweetness is my Weakness” complete with drum and bass solos.
Ronnie leaves vocal duties in the capable hands of Fowler, Knight and Paris for soul scorcher “Forever” and returns to the mic for “Tell Me Something”.
The stage clears for a particularly energetic rendition of album favourite “Fancy Pants” once again accompanied by the Stomp crew, all involved appear to be having a whole lot of fun!
Things slow down as Kelly Jones rejoins the fold to provide lyrics on the Ronnie Lane dedicated “Debris” a song that, judging by the delivery, obviously means a lot to the Welsh rocker.
“You’re gonna love this!” states Ronnie before launching into blues standard “Night Time Is The Right Time” with Bernard giving even Ray Charles a run for his money on lead vocals.
“Remember this guitar?” asks Ronnie, “It’s the Stay With Me guitar!” as the Stomp team re-emerge for a head to head battle with Ron on guitar and the drummers beating their make shift drums developing into a stunning call and response. With the stage clear only Andy Newmark stays in position watching the young drummers go head to head with the guv’ner.
Ron’s guitar lives up to expectation as the rest of the band rejoin for Faces classic “Stay With Me” with Bernard once again making the song his own by taking Rod’s lead vocal.
As the song reaches its climax the band, say their goodbyes and leave the stage for a couple of minutes as the crowd howl out for more.
Never one to disappoint Ronnie and team return to rapturous applause as the full ensemble join together for a rousing rendition of Stones classic “Jumping Jack Flash”
A worthy end to a wonderful night, on this form it looks like Ronnie feels like playing for a whole lot longer."
Produced by: Sally Humphreys Productions Limited | Photographs: Matt Crockett | Report: Tim Harper