From what she has posted elsewhere on the net, Stella seems to think that people are scared to air their views on here but I do not see why that should be the case.
An opposite view to Stella is that I have been to fourteen gigs (one third of the UK shows) in the last 12 months and I have been disappointed in the set list for the last few shows, especially at Bilston, Holmfirth and Leeds.
In general people understand that Steve has to keep a core number of songs in his set list to keep up with the expectations of fans who only go to one show per tour. All that the habitual followers are asking is for an occasional nugget or two. I love the old music AND I love the new music. I would LOVE to hear "Throw The Men And Horses Away" played live (I heard it in part at Belfast but that was the soundcheck and it was not played at the actual gig). I adore "No Bleeding Hearts" but I have not heard it played since the Isle Of Wight (where it received an astonishing reception from a mainly young festival audience). At some time in the recent past it was suggested that Steve play "Muriel The Actor" (last performed live at Crystal Palace in 1976) but that hasn't happened. Why not play Ritz instead of The Lighthouse now and again, or Death Trip instead of Dino? Saturday Night At The Fair instead of Last Time I Saw You? The band know those songs and they are such excellent musicians that the rehearsals to which Stella refers elsewhere are probably unnecessary.
There was certainly an expectation in my mind that the "party" shows at Christmas and New Year would be different and they were not hence my current downer. I know that to be the case with other fans who I see regularly at gigs.
I love Steve Harley and his music, and I have done since 1974. I tell everyone I meet how good he is and have even bought CD's for them to prove it. I have bought every album, every single, every re-issue, every t-shirt, been to a large number of gigs, and hopefully will continue to do so. I am happy to listen to whatever Steve chooses to put in a set list but recently I have not had the urge to go to any shows. That is just the way I feel. If I thought I might hear "Muriel" or "Death Trip" or any one of another twenty or thirty tracks that I could name my current apathy would disappear in an instant.
As Ray Davies once wrote, everybody has a right to speak their mind so don't shoot me for speaking mine.
