Posted: 08 December 2009 at 11:52am | IP Logged

Halligan wrote: So... what's next then?

So many answers!

1) Having bought all of Rob's CDs on Sunday, I will be listening to those :-)

2) Since Rob looks like Tom Baker and Tim looks like David Tennant, they should hold their own Musical Dr Who show

3) I need to go to some of Rob's gigs

4) We need more ATF!  I think some of us need to get together to promote something *big*

5) We need even more ATF!!!!

Posted: 08 December 2009 at 6:32pm | IP Logged

Sounds a great event. Fabulous pictures, and a great stage with all the trimmings. How many made it to the end of tour at Billericay? Did many people come from far (i.e. further away than 'Sarfend')?

As Rob has indicated, lots of energy has been put into this tour by all members of the band and crew, to whom we give our heartfelt thanks. I did imagine your late finishes. Professionalism, humour, fun and a serious message. All a great example to up-and-coming musical talent (such as the back-up artist we had at Leeds). Please consider writing more material together, and recording. Having said that, I absolutely love 'Forged from Faith' and you never played it!

Posted: 08 December 2009 at 7:12pm | IP Logged

 - Hello to all my ATF friends -

Sunday's final show at Billericay was absolutely brilliant. Fantastic end to this years tour. (Sorry I am late with my post, but spent yesterday after work putting the footage on DVD and it took 3 hours ! Then just had to watch it all !).

I actually got to see Signs of Change perform this time, as could only hear them at Godalming due to everyone being taller then me  . Was great to see it all come to life. Pilgrim was... oh so good  with Rob helping out on the vocals and John & Pete strumming their guitars. Oh yeah, and there were the other 3 guys. JP (blokeattheback, you have a lovely speaking voice by the way. Are you blushing !?), Rod Stewart and Hercule Poirot (was absolutely shocked to hear Rev.Paul Carr say that the drummer was Tim... I thought it was Hercule!!!). A great performance that I think was thoroughly enjoyed by long awaiting fans, and a real treat if you did manage to catch a show with them supporting. Well done guys (BTW your performance looks good on my 50" TV !).

Wondered if you knew JP that all through the SoC set the word 'Blank' was written on the screen behind you from the projector. Hope it wasn't a message for the audience about your state of mind!!!

Also I know the couldn't count back in the 70's, but it sounds like you still can't count in current times. Please see the teacher!

Sorry but can not express enough how excellent After the Fire were that night. The setting of Emmanuel Church looked fantastic, and I must say does feel very homely! The lighting I thought was brilliant during the show, especially as a backdrop to the band. And the sound, as per the 2 shows I previously went to,  have been brilliant.

First set started straight into 1980f and blasted the keyboards around the church, followed by High Fashion and then the fantastic drumming in Bright Lights, well done Tim. Its nice to hear Love Will Always Make You Cry, I love the way Pete starts it off.

Then Matt Russell came on stage to do some percussion for Rob, who sang Elena, lovely song with a sad story. Adds something special to a song when you know th e story behind it and that it is true.

Sorry I am having a few problems, will finish off this post tomorrow.

Posted: 08 December 2009 at 8:21pm | IP Logged

What a great evening, thanks so much to all concerned. The venue was just right for a celebratory JOY-fest of ATF/Halligan music, even the incidental music was good....... Roxy Music, Jerry Rafferty and especially LARRY NORMAN, to name but a few!!! Nice to meet two Sharpies, a venerable Carr and Zippy too!!

The coffee was good and very welcome, after just under a two-hour drive from Norfolk, where (BTW, Tim) the Canaries are singing loudly and sweetly!!! Hmmmm......Tractor Boys run out of diesel?!!

I'd been at the Halesworth gig and was so impressed that I had to see ATF again, this time with husband and video-recorder on board. Unfortunately, the battery died just as they started Joy, which I'd really wanted to capture on video as I'd not heard them perform it so well as they did at Halesworth, but they certainly equalled it at Billericay!! (So next year, I shall expect you to play it equally as well at whichever venue I attend...PLEASE!!)

It seemed rightly-deserved that Rob should play Roger Daltrey as an encore, he's brought so much more than just great vocals to ATF, what a confident but humble performer!! I'm sure that he and Tractor Boy Tim must have lost pounds in weight from expended energy!!

What can I say about SoC, other than my previous mails stand firm and that I thoroughly enjoyed their performance!! Pilgrim rocked, progressively to the end.

The odd little foray into that first beautiful album would not go amiss by ATF either, alongside an occasional cover version (this has been done so well, allbeit accoustically, at St P on the Wall). I'm still amazed at how ATF can produce the stunning level of musicianship when they only get together for a short tour. Such is genuine talent, I suppose!!

Greenbelt must wake up and book ATF to perform on a decent-sized stage at an appropriate time of day!! (oh, and preferably when it is conveneient for me to attend!!.) That's not asking too much!! Let's all bug 'em.....anyone know how to go about doing this?   Roll on the ATF 2010 tour.

Posted: 08 December 2009 at 10:44pm | IP Logged

Hello all

Thanks Zippy - really good to finally catch up with you at Billericay.  I danced on a chair at the back at Foxton, only luckily I could see; glad you got to see this time!   And Maggie - great to have a chat with you too. 

I'm really glad to be able to savour again through your posts another amazing performance by SoC and ATF, wonderful playing and singing by all.  You have been hiding your other talents blokeatthefront!  Very interesting to hear how you got into the band Ian, what an enterprising brother you have!

Loved your leaping around, Rob: John commented you were looking a bit tired towards the end!  The acoustic version of You is beautiful but I love the rocked up version too.

Good pics again Richard, and we can finally see Peter in action 

It seems a long time til next year....!  Yes Rob, what is next?!  A well-deserved rest I think - thank you all.

Jennie

Posted: 09 December 2009 at 7:52pm | IP Logged

Hi all, I am back for part 2 of ATF rocks Billericay !

Now where did I get to.... oh yes, Matt Russell joined the guys on stage also for Dark Side and One Rule, I think he has got taller since last year ! I really like this version of One Rule, sort of jazzed up from the original.

Still love Tim's drumming on Bright Lights and the sun glasses went on again for Dancing in the Shadows. If I recall correctly I think this is the part when Rob told everyone that his son David said the big silver 'S' on Ian's t-shirt didn't stand for Superman but the Silver Surfer ! 

Richard, who has taken some excellent photos of previous ATF shows was taking photos at the interval of the band with fans. Sadly I missed out  . The charge for all the photos, ie. the money received from fans, went to 'Just Care' the charity Rev.Paul Carr had chosen, also there was no entrance fee, just a donation to 'Just Care'. Hopefully the charity received a lot of money that night.

John's cello manolin (is that what its called?!) has a fantastic sound especially on Carry me Home.

Everyone got on their feet for I Can Say, which made it start to feel like party time.

Wild West show had Rob running around the room and kicking footballs around, of which the audience were tossing back to him. Can't believe he managed not to kick Richards Tri Pod over down the centre aisle !!

Mr Banksy had the iron out for Starflight. Who started off the ironing thing? He was ironing across his Tyros to the sound of the keyboard, lucky it wasn't plugged in !!

For the encore when Pete asked what we wanted to hear, I found a sudden moment when I thought it would be funny to shout out Dancing Queen, lucky I didn't !

Rob sang Roger Daltry for us. Its quite emotional watching him sing this song knowing what it means to him.

The show ended with Joy.... YES ........ I finally got to hear it live, at a show I have been to, that is. During the song I was zoomed in on Banksy with my camcorder and caught a couple of people doing a mexican wave to the song ! Would have been good if everyone had picked up on it.

Jenny & John (Sharpies) great to meet up with you again, will have to try and get to Cambridge next time. Jenny thank you for getting me & Julian a cup of tea. I think you enjoyed it all as much as I did. The show, not the tea!

MaggieM, fantastic to put a face to a name ! Great to meet you.

Thanks to everyone involved in bringing us a string of brilliant shows this year. ie. promoters, management, blokes at the back, lighting and sound, and last but not least, Pete, John, Tim, Ian & Rob for some great entertainment.

Also, thanks to Rev Paul and Paula for making us all feel at home in Emmanuel church. As they do everytime I visit. Hope to visit again soon.

Can't believe I managed to get to 3 shows this year on my own !

This is Zippy signing off for the final, fantastic ATF show of 2009. A highlight for me.

Well done guys