Roger Hodgson at the RAH.

I was looking forward to this gig and it didn't disappoint.

I've loved Supertramp from the outset but it was Hodgson's songs that made most impact on me.

What we got at the RAH was 2 hours of some really beautiful songs stripped down to basics which proved what a quality song writer this man is. He played a solo "unplugged" gig (well he did have Canadian multi instrumentalist called Aaaron who played beautiful sax passages) and included the following tracks (in no particulat order):

Take the Long Way Home
Give a Little Bit
Hide in Your Shell
Oh Brother - this one is NEW, never recorded before!
The Logical Song
Easy Does It
Sister Moonshine
Breakfast in America
Don't Leave Me Now
Dreamer
It's Raining Again
School
Two of Us
Give a Little Bit (Again - with audience participation)
Even in the quietest moments

plus a few others I can't remember.

He was totally into the gig. He was loving it and that got the audience right with him. He even messed up a few of the songs by forgetting the words but he just laughed out loud and carried on. That was both professional and very cute. His voice is as strong as it ever was. In fact I don't think it has changed much in all the years he's been away from the stage.

The stage was VERY minimalist. A few pot plants and lighting that was almost non-existent - the review in my local paper said that it wouldn't even light up a shed. The two musicians were picked out by decent spot lights though.

He played for a total of 2 hours and it was wonderful. I'd definitely go again and those of you who are going will have a terrific night out I'm sure.

Now I'm going to play some Supertramp albums.