A packed audience saw and experienced Tilbrook, his music, his charm and his total professionalism as he breezed through a superb set of mainly, and I quote, 'story telling' and 'novelty' songs. Naturally, his set took us through several, Difford/Tilbrook, Squeeze classics, some more recent Tilbrook penned works and onto a few, very unexpected covers. Tilbrook encouraged audience participation throughout, not that many needed any encouragement, and positively manipulated his enthralled followers from start to finish. With his distinctive voice and quality guitar playing he had just about everybody in the palm of his hand. And rightly so, this was proper top drawer stuff!!
Tilbrook seemed totally at home at this smallish venue. Certainly the audience made it easy for him with their total acceptance of anything he chose to do. Several times he ventured away from the mic and simply talked and bantered as if he knew everyone there on a personal level. At one point he went totally unplugged, took his guitar into the audience and effortlessly sang and played his heart out to just about each and every one of us.
His choice of songs tonight seemed to be very spontaneous as he frequently asked for 'requests' and just seemed to do whatever came to him. This whole, laid back, approach just made the evening feel so relaxed, friendly and exciting.
Most enjoyable and surprising moment for me was when he covered Willie Nelson's, 'Always On My Mind'; not something I, or most people for that matter, would normally associate with Glenn Tilbrook. But what a version - brilliant!!; he took an old standard and made it totally his own which is some impressive feat when you think of how many big names have recorded it.
Tilbrook's effortless style, crackin' voice, very impressive guitar work and 'guy next door' approach made for a memorably impressive Sunday night out. Not much more to say really except, "Cheers then" and come back to Marr's soon.
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