Wearing a cowboy hat surrounded by banks of synths, Manfred was in fine, even effusive, fettle, wondering at the exemplary dual vocals of longstanding guitarist Mick Rogers and ex-Bad Company frontman Robert Hart. Ably backed by a rhythm section including ex-Jeff Beck’s Jimmy Copley, the quintet stormed through an all-classic 13-song set in 95 minutes. Launching into the AOR belter, Spirits In The Night, Manfred played the first of several proggy passages, while the vocal leads were counterpointed beautifully on Castles Burning.
A synthax was donned on the robust Captain Bobby Stout, and the impressive harmonies of Martha’s Madman gave way to the distinctive key motifs of Dancing In The Dark. Hart took an acoustic in hand for You Angel You and Rogers’ Spanish guitar scintillated on Father Of Day Father Of Night, while I Came For You was a rousing call to arms, prior to an extended Don’t Kill It Carol and lung-bursting Blinded By The Light. The joyous Davy’s On The Road Again led into a 60s encore, including The Mighty Quinn. Mighty indeed.
