Tag Archives: BST Hyde Park

Taking Care of Business

July 9, 2022 Neil

I am a big fan of Elvis Presley. My first visit to America was to Las Vegas mainly because of the length of time he had spent there in the early seventies. A few years ago now I went on a short US Road trip to Memphis were I of course visited Graceland, spent time on Beale Street, went to Sun Studios and even the shop where Elvis used to buy a lot of his clothes. On the same trip I went to Nashville making sure I took the tour of RCA Studio B which is where he recorded over two hundred and fifty of his songs. I absolutely loved that holiday and I would happily go back and visit all of those places again.

You will not be surprised to hear that I really wanted to see the new Elvis Presley film directed by Baz Luhrmann at the earliest possible opportunity. Therefore on the opening United Kingdom release date I booked tickets to see it at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square in London. I got seats in what they called the Royal Box section. These were extra large recliner chairs which almost gave you the chance to lie down and watch the film. They were also right in the middle of the auditorium so you had the perfect view of the big screen and were centrally placed to get the most out of the surround sound set up.

Lynda met me after work and we went and grabbed a pre-film Leon. As a coeliac they are pretty much my go to gluten free relatively fast food option nowadays. I was very excited about seeing the film. I had seen a few of the trailers and visually it looked absolutely stunning. I already knew I liked the music, plus I have enjoyed Baz’s stuff in the past. I think his movies do have a certain feel to them that I like. He I reckon also has a short attention span like me as his films seem to move between scenes very quickly and he tries to cram a lot of the story in to quite short timescales.

We arrived at the cinema and had a quick drink in the bar that had greats view over Leicester Square. It was then time to go and take our seats. I was so keen I was even happy to watch all the trailers. I am not sure if there were a few Americans in as this does not strike me as overly British but there was a round of applause just as it was about to begin. It is I guess if you like the potted history of the life and times of Elvis, there is forty-two years to get into two hours and thirty nine minutes, so the pace is fairly fast at times. However I like how his childhood was covered it gave you a flavour of his influences and upbringing.

It does tell the parallel story of Elvis’s manager Colonel Tom Parker. Well nobody is hiring Tom Hanks and only giving him a bit part. To be fair he was a big part of the Presley story and was there from very near to the start right to the end. The relationship between the two men was very complicated it kind of worked but often not really how either of them wanted it to. I think it is fair to say that the Colonel helped launch his career and made him into a star but he also held him back from achieving more when he was alive due to his huge dependence on what his man’s talents were doing for him.

I know the story of Elvis and the Colonel very well and I think on the whole it seems to be an accurate portrayal but there does seem to me to be some artistic licence at certain moments in the plot. Austin Butler is brilliant as Elvis. He does not particularly look like him but he fully embodies his style and presence. He also does a lot of the singing himself as early Elvis and does an excellent job. The music of course is cleverly used and a few of the big songs have had the Baz Luhrmann touch to enhance the storyline and make them more distinctive to the film.

Neil Quigley and Elvis Presley hanging out in the 70's #crazydays — Neil Quigley and Elvis Presley hanging out in the 70’s #crazydays

I thoroughly enjoyed it and it kept me transfixed even though I knew exactly what was going to happen. It really is an exceptional piece of cinema. Tom Hanks is of course brilliant, he plays the role so well. It bought back lots of great memories for me seeing all the places that I have previously visited. Elvis was a truly amazing performer with such a sensational voice and stage presence. His Vegas Shows and live tours in the seventies were as close to perfection as you can get I think. Whether you are a fan or not it is well worth seeing Elvis, it is actually quite up lifting and life affirming.

This is a film I will definitely see more than once. The only thing missing for me was the fact that Elvis did famously have a great sense of humour and was often joking around during recording sessions and on stage. That does not feature really in this take concentrating more on the taking care of business and looking after everyone angle and the slightly darker side of his final years to do with possibly being overworked and feeling too much pressure to look after everybody who relied on him. When I did the Graceland Tour we visited his gym area. It had a piano in there. On the day he died the last song he ever played and sang on that instrument was Blue Eyes Crying in Rain, which in a way may have been sadly to apt.

I am massive music fan and have been over the years trying to make sure I have seen all the big and dare I say iconic bands. There was one huge group from the sixties missing from my list. I had been trying to catch them for years but it had not quite worked out. Two Saturdays ago I finally managed to put that right as Lynda and I went to see The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park. We booked the tickets while out for dinner a couple of months before, we were just chatting and both said that we would like to see them. I mentioned I thought they were playing in London during the summer but I thought the tickets would be sold out. Lynda looked online there were tickets available so we bought them there and then while we were waiting for our main course to arrive.

We paid the extra to get the early entry tickets meaning we could get in one hour before general admittance. We got to Hyde Park and there was just a sea of people everywhere, happily for us a very nice gentleman directed us to the right queue. He was not a member of staff just a Good Samaritan. This line did a massive figure of eight and had nobody directing it but somehow managed to snake its way all the way round to the entrance. I was amazed by how everybody knew where to join and how it just kept its random shape. That would not happen anywhere else other than England.

I must confess and I am slightly embarrassed to admit this but I did not know who any of the support acts were. That said I enjoyed all of them, they were great and very much played the type of music I like so I will keep an eye out for them all in the future. The weather was not quite as warm as I would have liked but it did at least stay dry. The time flew by with the live music on stage, the food, drink and comfort breaks we had while fighting off lots of potential stealers of our seats. We could have tried to get closer to the stage but we had a good view of the big screens and the sound was fine where we were.

After a quick look round to see what food and drink options there were we spotted a space on a picnic table and made that our home for the rest of the day and evening, taking it in turns to leave and do things while the other one secured our place. As they did not say that they did any gluten free food I got an exemption email so that I could bring my own food in. However it did appear that one of the food stalls at least may have been able to cater for me but I would much rather be safe than sorry.

Finally it was time for the main attraction. They just bound out on to the stage and got the party started. They were brilliant from start to finish. It was quite a poignant gig as it was the first one that they had played in London since the death of their original drummer Charlie Watts, which they did of course acknowledge. Their singer Mick Jagger is seventy-eight years old and he has just recovered from COVID. He was jumping around the place like a teenager for the whole two hours dancing and running. I am not sure what he was drinking while he was up there but I think I want some. His voice was still sounding as good as ever.

Then of course you have the two guitar legends that are Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, again you could not fault their energy and commitment to putting on a show. The three of them go through more outfit changes than Madonna! I am so pleased I finally got to see them play they are easily one of the greatest bands of all time. Even the journey to and from the gig was not too bad considering it was a day of train strikes. A top day out seeing some legends I must say I have been to a few of the BST events and they are always very well run and organised.

The day after the Stones, as we did not think we had squeezed in enough during the previous two days we went to a play that we both wanted to see. The reason it had attracted our attention was that it was an Agatha Christie courtroom drama set in a very unusual yet very apt location. The production of Witness for the Prosecution is being staged in the County Offices on the Southbank. It is actually being performed in the County Chamber Meeting room to be more specific which of course has a courtroom feel to it.

It was fantastic we had really good seats right next to the stage so you almost felt part of the performance. It was like watching a play from the public gallery in court. It all fitted together perfectly, the cast were brilliant and it really kept you guessing right until the end. The staging was very clever and you can actually book to sit in the jury seats, which does really make you the jury and part of the play someone even gets to play the foreperson and get a very small speaking role. If you fancy seeing a great play in the perfect setting I would very much recommend it.

Last Friday we went to a Sausage and Cider Festival in Hemel Hempstead. They had some tribute acts playing so we just thought it might be fun to have a few drinks, enjoy some music and sample a few sausages. We got there a bit late and the place was already packed with huge queues for the bar and the limited sausage stalls. I had a quick look at what was available and saw one stand with a sign that said gluten free sausages.

I waited in line for just over half an hour and then when I got to the front I found out they cooked the gluten free sausages in the same oil as the gluten containing sausages. That is no good for a Coeliac as I cannot risk any cross contamination. Not to be beaten I asked the guy on the stand next door if he did gluten free sausages, he said yes, I then waited in his queue for thirty minutes before getting to the front and finding out all the stalls were linked and only had the same options, which of course were no good for me.

I was starving by now so we had a pint of cider each while listening to a Kasabian tribute band before leaving the place to get a gluten free takeaway pizza before I chewed my own arm off. Sadly it was not the greatest success but I did get to have a chat with my mate Lee, so it was not quite a total waste of time! While I was waiting for the food that I could not have there was a Madness tribute playing. I have been lucky enough to hear the actual band sound check in a nearly empty Wembley Stadium and let us just say to use a food advertising slogan you could taste the difference!

A quick reminder that you can listen to me every Saturday afternoon between 2pm – 4pm on Radio Ninesprings https://www.radioninesprings.co.uk/

I do like to keep myself busy and see and do as many different things as I can. I got Lynda a meal for two at a very nice restaurant run by one of her favourite Chef’s as a present. And happily she has decided to take me there with her, so we are off to enjoy that today. I will of course report back on what it was like next time we speak. Have fun and we will catch up again soon. Stay safe! Cheers Neil.

Roving Comedy

July 7, 2017 Neil

Hi there, how are you doing? I hope you have had a really good couple of weeks. Mine have been very busy with loads of fun stuff going on. I recently went to see one of the London heats of the BBC New Comedy Award 2017 at the Up The Creek Comedy Club in Greenwich.

Former winners of this award include Marcus Brigstocke, Alan Carr, Nina Conti, Rhod Gilbert and Angela Barnes. Peter Kay was a finalist back in 1997 but was beaten to the award by Paul Foot. The night I saw was hosted by the great Kerry Godliman. Who if you think her name sounds familiar, played Hannah in Ricky Gervais’s Derek. She is a brilliant stand up in her own right. And did a top job.

There were Ten acts competing to get through to the semi-finals. I thought the quality and standard was exceptionally high. They were all really good and put in some very composed and professional performances. I was very impressed with everyone.

The judges on the night, who included the comedian Holly Walsh. Had to choose a winner and two runners’ up to send through to the next round. Personally I think they got it about right with their decision making. Whoever wins the overall competition gets a cash prize and a radio show commission for Radio 4. Which is pretty cool. The heat was recorded and put out on Radio 4. The Semi-finals this year will take place during the Edinburgh Festival.

Now having previously worked for Regatta Radio. I got to know a few people involved with Henley-on-Thames and a little bit about the rowing itself. So every year I do try and get to at least one day of the Henley Royal Regatta. This time I went on day one. I met up with my mate George Thomas.

We started off by having a quick drink in one of the pubs near the bridge. Then we headed off to the river bank to catch some of the big race action. If you have never been it is a fantastic occasion. As you walk down the river there are lots of enclosures where you can get a selection of food and drinks. Many of them have live music to. So as you watch the races go past, there is plenty to keep you entertained until the next one comes along.

We walked all the way down to the start and watched a few races from the grandstand there. Before then heading back up the river. While we were watching the rowing we did treat ourselves to a couple of pints of one of my favourite local ales. The IPA from the Rebellion Brewery in Marlow.

I think it is fair to say that the Regatta is very much a celebration of rowing. And there are certainly plenty of people getting right in to the spirit of things. I think it is something you should do at least once in your life. I would guess once you have been once, you will probably go back again and again. I fully intend to return for an afternoon there again next year.

We then left the river and George took me for a pint in his favourite pub in Henley. Which did not disappoint. It is fascinating walking through the town when this event is on. You obviously see lots of very tall, fit and strong athletes. As well as lots of very smartly dressed people.

Many of them in very bright jackets. Which show you the rowing club they belong to. And if they have previously rowed in the Regatta. Many people who rowed in school still come back to see the next generation of rowers compete and to enjoy the unique atmosphere for many decades after they originally raced.

"Gloriana" looking very regal at Henley Regatta — “Gloriana” looking very regal at Henley Regatta

Thanks to an invitation from my friend and former boss Steve Carpenter. I made a very late decision to go along with him to see the first British Summertime concert of the year at Hyde Park last Friday. There are several of these concerts taking place over the next month with lots of different headliners.

They have three stages there. The main one called the Great Oak Stage, the event’s sponsor Barclaycard have one and then there is a much smaller stage called the Summertime Stage.

The line up at the gig I was at was brilliant. On the main stage alone we had KC and the Sunshine Band, Mike and the Mechanics, Blondie and the headline act Phil Collins. So I did not really need to go and check out any of the other stages.

But I did have to pop along to see a few songs from Chas & Dave. Who were playing on the Summertime Stage. And as ever they were ace. I interviewed Chas several years ago. He was brilliant. Such an interesting and lovely bloke.

The set up in Hyde Park was very good. It was packed as you would expect but it was still pretty easy to get food and drink, as well as to get to the toilets. It is a bit like being at a mini festival except with the bonus that you can sleep in your own bed when it ends. So KC and the Sunshine Band kicked things off on the main stage.

I think the last time I had seen them would have been about fifteen years ago at the Birmingham NEC. As part of one of those seventies and eighties revival nights. They really are one of those bands who have had more decent hits than you think. And you will recognise more of their songs than you thought. They did a great job. And even though it was early evening and still sunny. They still got the crowd dancing.

Next up it was Mike and the Mechanics. I have to confess I am a fan of their work. I know and like a lot of their songs. The line up of the band has always been fairly loose and has changed lots over the years with Mike Rutherford whose band it is, as the constant. Andrew Roachford is now part of the line up. His voice really does lend itself to their songs. They played all their big hits and their brilliant new single. Closing their set with the fantastic “All I Need Is A Miracle”. Which is a quality tune.

It was at this point that I nipped off to see Chas & Dave for a bit. Before then returning to the main stage area to see Blondie. They are another band with an amazing back catalogue of songs. I am a huge fan of theirs and I was excited to see them play for the first time.

Debbie Harry is one of the best front women of all time, I would say. The band were sounding great. Though if I am honest Debbie seemed to struggle a bit on some of the vocals of the early big hits. But in her defence some of them were released nearly forty years ago. She sounded excellent on the newer stuff though. I thoroughly enjoyed them. It was a great afternoon/evening having a few drinks and listening to some top quality live music.

Then it was time for the headline act Phil Collins. He is struggling a bit nowadays. Several back operations have left him struggling to walk, so he needs a stick to get around and had to sit on a stool to perform. But that did not stop him from being absolutely sensational. His band which he had clearly assembled himself were quality, so together and tight.

Phil of course renowned as one of the best drummers of all time, had passed on the baton to his sixteen year old son Nicholas for this gig. He was exceptional, as let’s face it there are some big drumming parts in Phil’s songs. As he wrote these for himself when he was playing them on the records. He must have one of the coolest jobs of any teenager I know. Playing drums in front of sixty-thousand people on some of the biggest hits of all time with your dad.

Phil Collins was brilliant, his voice sounded better than ever. He was very chilled and chatty between the songs. And he performed a great set of his own songs with a few of the big Genesis hits thrown in for good measure.

I must admit hearing some of those songs performed live for the first time reminded me how good he is. He had the whole crowd up on their feet dancing and singing along. I am so pleased I decided to go along. I had a fantastic time catching up with a good friend, while enjoying some excellent live music.

Last Saturday I went to meet a mate for a birthday drink at a Summer Garden Party at The Shoulder of Mutton pub in Wendover. It was a family event. With plenty for the children to do, a mini beer festival and some live music. While I was there a young lad with a guitar was performing a mixture of covers and his own songs. He was ace and provided a nice back ground to chat and catch up with people to.

Then a very decent band rounded off the event. They featured a couple of people I knew from various other bands from the Aylesbury area from over the years. They were fronted by a father and daughter combination. They played a wide and varied range of cover songs. It was a nice way to spend the evening just in a pub beer garden listening once again to some live music.

Last Sunday it was The Tringe Festival Roving Comedy Night 2017. I first performed at this event five years ago after completing a course with the comedy guru that is Mr Logan Murray. So this time I was back with five minutes of new material to unleash on the good people of Tring.

As I arrived at the meeting place for our pre-show briefing I was actually feeling a little bit more nervous than I did the first time that I did it in 2012.

Everyone performing this year had done it before, so we were representing our original groups’ year at this year’s gig. It was nice to meet the people who I would be gigging with from the first time. We introduced ourselves to each other and then shared our own previous experiences from the first time we had done it. I was going to be touring around with Nick Mellors, Damian Hammond and Jake Cuddihy. The professional with us for our mini show was the great Paul B Edwards.

We would perform our show in four different pubs in Tring but we would each have to sit one out and so perform three times each through the night. The first pub was the Kings Arms, which was the one I was to sit out. So I got to watch all the other acts, while mentally preparing myself for my first gig at the next pub.

That pub was the Robin Hood. I went on first as I wanted to get my first one done. As this was all untried new material that had not been performed in front of an audience before. Happily it went well and I had a ball doing it. It was great to be back at the Tringe. You can’t beat that adrenaline rush when they announce your name and you walk to the stage to do your stuff.

The next pub was The Black Horse. Which was the first venue I performed in five years ago. The compere’ in there was my comedy dad Logan Murray, so it was great to see him again. Even though he scared the life out of me, as I was expecting to go on third at this venue. So I was just relaxing when he announced me as the second act, and I had to race to the stage to perform but it was all good though.

The final venue was The Anchor where I performed my new material for the third and final time that night. Therefore completing my second Roving Comedy Night. It was great fun once again. And I still think one of the best experiences you can have.

I think because I had done it before I could take it all in and actually enjoy it a bit more this time around. After the last gig it was back to The Kings Arms to catch up with everyone and have a couple of well deserved beers.

It was lovely to spend some more time catching up with Logan Murray. Nice to have a quick chat with Arthur Smith. Great to see and thank Ben Moorhouse, the man who makes the whole Tringe happen for organising such a great and enjoyable event. I got to meet and chat to the other former Rovers who had performed including the very funny Olaf Falafel. Who did the course the year before me and is really starting to make a bit of a name for himself in the world of comedy.

And lastly it was lovely to catch and and have a chat with Silky, who is a brilliant comedian and a great bloke. In fact he was one of the finalist’s in the very first BBC New Comedy Awards. And everyone in Comedy knows him and has probably worked with him at some point.

It was a wonderful evening going back to perform in Tring at an event so special to me. I loved every minute of being back there and doing my comedy. It has inspired me once again to try and do a bit more Stand Up.

It seems a shame not to get a bit more value out of the new material I have written. Plus I really do enjoy getting up on stage and doing it. It was great to be back!

Have fun and we will catch up again in a couple of weeks. Cheers Neil.

Neil Quigley Presenter