Well on my last review I said I was very tempted to go to Belfast Empire to see Mr Soto again. Mmm again my will power isn’t too good and combined  with a cheap flight from Glasgow, well I was on my way. Getting to the venue was easy given that it was the same place that Tyketto played last November but, because I left it to the last minute I had a wee bit further to walk from the hotel - but only around 10-15mins, which was fine, but getting out of the gig  it was pissing it down! Nice Irish weather, its almost like being home! But I love Belfast, such a lovely friendly city and the gigs there are always good fun. Always nice to meet new people too and I should say a quick hello to Seamus, see you again next gig.

 

Fireland were first to entertain us and they certainly did. I would say more on the heavier end and more hard rock than melodic, I hope to see these guys again.

 

Pride came on to a good cheer and lots of familiar faces , even with Matt's throat being a bit poorly, his voice was still great. They came on and gave us a quite long set, from my faves including 'This Time', 'Hold On', 'Still Raining', 'who You Gonna Love' plus more and ending with one of their best 'Say You’re Not Lonely'. Beautiful! The band are so good, I still don’t know why they’re still supporting instead of a being a headliner. They seem to have it all, a cute singer who has a great voice, backed with some brilliant musicians who are fun to watch. They warmed us all up and waiting eagerly for Jeff to come on stage.

        

 

 I have to love the person who keeps putting Extreme’s 'Get The Funk Ou't on before Jeff hits the stage, one of my faves back in the day and still so now. Curiously when I first saw JSS live at the 2002 Gods, he so reminded me of Gary Cherone in the way he moves on stage and sometimes even vocally, and of course the blinding Queen songs as well as 'Play That Funky Music' which they’ve both covered. Anyway onto the show tonight, they open with the rocking 'Livin The Life' and then dive straight into 'Eyes Of Love'. As with all of the shows on this tour Soto covers off much of his career endeavours and so we get Soul Sirkus’s 'New Position' and then onto more and more of the usual mix of everything. Letting Howie sing 'Long Train Running' was certainly a good ideas as the crowd seemed to love it judging by all of the singing and dancing going on around.  Has this man done any solo CD’s, I’d love to hear that.

 

     

 

The Humanimal track with 'Again 2 Be Found' is followed, of course, by Seal’s 'Crazy', which  Soto sings perfectly and then the real fun begins as JSS sits down at the the keyboard whilst the rest of the band perch on stools and it's time for the audience to get those cameras out. From 'This Is The End', 'Soul Goes On', 'Cheyenne', via much messing about  laughing  into 'Purple Rain', 'Love Of My Life' (more reminders  of Extreme) and finally 'I’ll Be Waiting' with its very bouncy sing along end - though what’s happened to the different versions we were hearing last time- I loved the death metal take on the song. I love the medleys Soto et al throw into the show, they change most nights and keep things fresh and tonight whilst doing 'I want to take you higher' was no exception with a brilliant Run To The Hills making me think of the Maiden show I saw recently at Hammersmith. Highlight of the show!!!!! So so good!

Then I’m so glad and very very happy that we were rewarded with the Boogie Knights Medley. For the last time until they tour again. The crowd were jumping, dancing and everyone who was anywhere near me were having a ball. I can’t help but have that in my head for days later. A lot of yapping afterwards to various people and bands and off I went into the pouring rain, thinking that didn’t last long! It all went so very quickly and I want to go to another one, but guess I’ll have to wait until JSS decides on his next tour