Reviews
Artist: Cry No More
Venue: The Turk's Head
Town: Twickenham
Date: 5th March 2010
Website:
http://www.crynomore.co.uk
Every year Cry No More put on a farewell concert, but they had made it very clear that this performance, unlike any previous 'Farewell' concert, really was to be their last. This was to be their final gig together, after which there would be no more. Ever. Absolutely never again. That's it. Over. Finished. Well, unless...
It was therefore of no surprise, but delightful, when Roy Hill announced that they were booked to play at Hampton next week. (The Royal Oak, on Saturday 13th.) If you haven't yet seen them, do try and catch them soon. One day it really might be the last.
A Cry No More gig comes with a sense of danger. Last night's performance was very unusual in that clearly they had rehearsed! (A concept normally anathema to them.) They were slicker than than the Torrey Canyon. Despite this obvious short-coming, the sense of danger pervaded. As always with Roy, once unleashed, there was no telling where he was heading, what song he would perform next, or, indeed, which key he would play it in.
Chas Cronk, on twelve string or bass guitar, takes all of this in his stride. Part of the pleasure of watching Cry No More is to admire his awesome talents of being able to adapt within a moment, changing style, key or rhythm at Roy's whim.
Chas also brought his bass pedals into play on a couple of tracks, creating some really magical sounds.
When talking to Roy Hill it is polite to call him, 'your majesty', after his song "Keep Away From Me" , which includes the delicious rhyming triplet: 'I want to live in palaces, I want to drink from chalices, and you'll call me your majesty.' After last night, though, I think it would be more appropriate to use the epithet: 'The Doctor'. He is a timelord. A complete master of timing. If you hear a comedian tell a joke that you have heard before, the normal reaction is to groan. Roy has such a complete mastery of comic timing that no matter how many times you hear one of his monologues between songs you are guaranteed to laugh. Most of the audience at a Cry No More concert know these set pieces verbatim and yet we were helpless with mirth. Not that these stories are jokes as such. The 'punchline' to "Sheep", - 'actually, I don't have any friends' - is not one that would inspire laughter if told by any other artist or comic.
Roy has blurred the lines between comedy, music, poetry and oration to create a new artform that I think is unique to Cry No More.
Unlike a typical comedian, Roy thrives on heckles and audience participation, and indeed will sometimes stop in the middle of a song to laugh at a jibe from the audience. There is a crowd that have followed him for years that are referred to as the Mulberry Tree Choir who delight at joining in with the songs, and last night they were on excellent form. It was a real pleasure to hear them sing along.
I don't think I have ever seen Chas looking so debonair in his black suit. He was Simon Templar incarnate. Roy too, wore black. Not sure I can recall ever seeing him in any other colour. Chas's bass guitar too is black, and Roy's acoustic comes in towards the darker end of the spectrum. In addition, the stage backdrop was black as well. Slightly too much co-ordination, perhaps, between their stage designers and their stylists, but I can testify that the photograph attached was taken live at the event, and hasn't been photo-shopped from stock footage of my coal shed.
I didn't keep a set list, but they played many of the their all-time greatest hits such as "Don't Leave Me Here", "Oh Sharon", "First Kiss", "I Like, I Like, I Like", "Fashion", "George's Bar" and "I Love Roxy". They also played a few tracks from the new album, including the title track "Temptation". They opened with "The Gambler", and closed with their classic ending "Are You Looking For Something Mr Templar" which strangely morphs into "Wooden Heart".
Everyone was enjoying themselves so much that time ran on well past the designated closing time (midnight), so there was not time for an encore, but we were not short changed. In all they played for well over two hours.
Although I cannot recommend this band highly enough, I would issue a slight caution to anyone planning on seeing them for the first time. A few of the songs have adult themes, and although Roy has claimed to have reformed, the odd swear word does occasionally get used. Probably better to leave Granny at the door.
Pete Bradley