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PAUL RODGERS
Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, 13 October 2006

When Paul Rodgers walked on to the stage in front of a sold out crowd and launched into not 1, not 2 but 3 Free songs straight off the bat, I just knew we were in for a rare treat.

OK, he followed that up with 'Radioactive' from his ill fated Jimmy Page collaboration, The Firm, but then, wham, a couple of Bad Company numbers came along right after.

We did get one new song, 'War Boys', introduced as a plea for peace, which stood up well against the older material as well as a couple of songs from his solo albums, all of which were received rapturously.

Having spent the last few years primarily singing other peoples songs on the road with Queen+, he seemed delighted to be back on a theatre singing his own songs, and it was far removed from the somewhat grumpy Mr Rodgers I last encountered in Glasgow.

Ably assisted by a fine, fine band (Howard Leese, Kurtis Dengler, Ryan Hoyle, Lynn Sorensen) he bounced, grinned and sang his heart out.

Collective Soul bassist Lynn Sorensen added a fine visual element to the show and many were stunned at the maturity and virtuosity of 17 year old guitar prodigy Kurtis Dengler who traded licks with Heart man Howard Leese all night long.

With everything falling into place you couldn't go wrong with the likes of 'I'll Be Creepin', 'Ride On Pony', 'The Stealer', Feel Like Makin Love', 'The Hunter', 'All Right Now', 'Wishing Well', Can't Get Enough' and more with a simply stunning 'Bad Company' stealing the show.

If it comes out as well on the DVD they were filming for, it should be an absolute treat. My one complaint? For once it wasn't long enough. 75 minutes in the company of Paul Rodgers and band simply flashed by.

Review by Stuart A Hamilton

Gig review (Albert Hall)