14/10/99 - SHEFFIELD ARENA

Review by Steven Stanley:
After waiting so very long for Bryan to come back to Sheffield in 1997 since his 1991 showing this gig a mere 2 years later was nothing! It was really nice to see him come back again so soon, and to another quick sellout. This time though I was standing! The support act were a band called 'Republica' lead singer going by the name of 'Saffron'...the one with the red hair...not very good really although they were popular at the time. The floor section was also a very strange layout....because there was no b-stage this time the standing area was split up into front and rear standing (lucky I managed to get some front standing tickets). Sheffield Arena does this for all artists....apart from Bryan when he uses the b-stage....very strange! I was looking forward to this gig more than normal because I knew that he was going to play a new song...'The Best Of Me'...I was reading the weeks reviews of the shows on the internet before I went so I couldn't wait to hear it...unusually I hadn't managed to get hold of it anywhere not even on the net. It was the best way to hear a new Bryan song...him actually playing it for you!

I went to the gig anyway with my Mum and Dad (who were in the seats) and with my friend Michael who was standing with me. Like all Sheffield gigs, the arena was pumping waiting for BA and the boys to come onstage! The lights went down and a really cool electric static display came up......"IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?"........Sheffield went wild! "IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?"..........suddenly we saw them walk onstage and they launched into a wild version of 'How Do Ya Feel Tonight' followed by the awesome 'Back To You' in which BA had to change bass guitars because his wasn't working....he just casually walked off stage on got another one from Lance!

'Summer Of '69' was played early in the show again like at Alton Towers back in July....it should be played later on in the show if you ask me! The lighting was really cool during the show as well with loads of different things going on...'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' looked very good with all the strobe lighting being used! He also played 'Kids Wanna Rock' as the show closer which was AWESOME! It was the best version I have ever heard and to end the song Keith threw his Fender Strat up in the air...(it literally nearly hit the very high stage roof and bounced back again!)....luckily he caught it! An amazing show all in all....he gets better everytime!

SET LIST:

HOW DO YA FEEL TONIGHT
BACK TO YOU
18 TIL I DIE
CAN'T STOP THIS THING WE STARTED
SUMMER OF 69
ITS ONLY LOVE
(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU
GETAWAY
CUTS LIKE A KNIFE
HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN?
C'MON C'MON C'MON
WHEN YOU'RE GONE
I'M READY
HEAVEN
I DON'T WANNA LIVE FOREVER
BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER
BLUES JAM
THE ONLY THING THAT LOOKS GOOD ON ME IS YOU
CLOUD #9
SOMEBODY
RUN TO YOU
THE BEST OF ME
KIDS WANNA ROCK

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My ticket :)

Is there anybody out there?