Marti @ the Clyde Auditorium

This was the last night in Glasgow and the last night of the tour, there couldn’t have been a more apt place to end it. How on earth did I manage to be front row centre seats again, time to hide this time I think !

'Sweet Little Mystery' had the place singing and screaming like mad as with 'Wishing I Was Lucky' along with the hands. The frenzy just continued with 'East Of The River', when Marti took his jacket off, until we were just about losing our voices. Marti thanked us again and said we had been a source of inspiration to him - anytime Marti, our pleasure to oblige. 'Did You Ever Wake Up' sounded as good as ever capturing the audience from its outset.

Bex
bex1g2.jpg (4002 bytes)
Thanks to Bex for providing a great support act
for the whole of Marti's tour. Good Luck !

Bex photos courtesy and © Stuart McIntyre, thanks Stoozie ;-)

Crazy is the only word that comes to mind thinking of Leo during 'Temptation', he never ceases to stand still nor entertain. No wonder I later heard that he ended up buying a new sax shortly after Marti's gigs. The crowd sang it to perfection and given half a chance could have finished it off for Marti after his breathtaking long note.

Marti messed up ‘Pretty Things’ as he started to sing the wrong words to the 3^rd verse then he just stood there looking bewildered, as if to say, that shouldn't have been like that and laughing instead of singing. Then when it got to the line for ‘. . . and the nightmares . . .’ he deliberately yet jokingly ended it with, ‘. . . just go on and on and on’, grinning, still somewhat amused at his faux pas which had us all laughing. Unruffled, Marti finished the song as if nothing had happened.

I felt we were allowed to appreciate Marti's new material better tonight with a more considerate audience compared to the previous night. 'Hard To Cry' again had the crowd as close to tears as Marti was, the lyrics are so powerful and meaningful, you can see just how deep they run in Marti as he sings it. Tranquillity is the only proper way to listen to this song and tonight just proved it.

Leo was once more the centre of attention at the start of 'I Don't Trust You', a very dark, almost sinister sounding moody song which was definitely growing on me.

As usual Marti paraded back and forth across the stage with Leo in tow during, 'New York Vibe' which is a firm new favourite of mine as are almost all of his new songs. At the next interim someone shouted out to Marti that they loved him, this was becoming a habit, every night he had at least one person trying this. He courteously replied, 'I love you', then went on to introduce, 'I Can Give You Everything' which was a fitting thing to say after that moment. Thanks to one of my pen pals for bringing that to my attention who wrote to me shortly after the concert to say she had been the guilty (yet lucky) one on that occasion ;-)

Yep 'Been Around The World' was so familiar I thought, then it hit me that it has an air of 'High On The Happy Side' in it with those guitar chords, I just love that type of stuff.

Jackie was on top form once again for 'It Should Have Been Me' with just about the whole of the front row singing or at least clapping along. Marti goes all smoochy again introducing 'Lip Service', yeah, whatever takes your fancy Marti. Virtually everyone was in full voice as we sang with Marti on 'Goodnight Girl'. Alan's great start to 'With A Little Help From My Friends' was soon enhanced by Leo coming over to be in the spotlight. This coupled with Marti performing some timely raunchy moves finished the first part of the set leaving us making a right raucous.

There were many familiar faces around tonight: Marti’s family, Dougie Souness, Sandy Jones – a sound engineer from the Brill Building (and his wife), the old Wets fan club manageress (sticking with Marti), Graeme Duffin (on stage again) and none other than Tommy and his wife in the audience amongst others. The Cunningham’s left under the cover of darkness part way through the concert getting a huge wave off Marti who looked really pleased to see them and was waving madly to them. Naturally a few people turned round to try to see who he was waving at but like me most of us couldn’t see a thing, but I learned the reason afterwards.

Even though that days papers had reported on Graeme Duffin being there the first night thus having most of the crowd prepared for it possibly happening again he got just as good a welcome when he came on.

Once again Glasgow was in fine voice to sing along to 'Gypsy Girl' on Marti's command, Graeme lending a helping pair of hands in getting our hands up in the air clapping while singing.

In my opinion, a concert with Marti near to Christmas just wouldn't be the same without 'Angel Eyes', as I always used to think in the past. Luckily any gig I've been to at this time of the year has always had it in the set and this lot of gigs didn't disappoint. It was sheer bliss once more and I savoured it, knowing it was the last night.

Even though there was the break between them, as Marti went off stage to await the final encore, 'Close To You' was the perfect follow on after 'Angel Eyes'. From one smooth and mellow hit song to a surefire future smash. Go for it Marti !

Nearing the end of the show as Marti approached the microphone stand centre stage he looked down at those in front of him and gave us a smile which we were quick to reciprocate glady.

Then needless to say 'Love Is All Around' brought the concert and whole tour to an end.

It was very much a party atmosphere although not just as emotional as the previous night. Marti was so so happy the whole night. Everyone was already happy but it was infectious, the happier he looked the more it rubbed off on the audience. It was just such a brilliant night, Marti was beaming from ear to ear, as usual but even more so as the night drew to an end. He had come to the end of what I’m sure must have been a very successful tour for him which in turn will help promote his solo career and forthcoming album.

Roll on a single, the album and not to mention another tour, but of course all in Marti's own good time. Marti knows all his fans will still be waiting on him when he's ready. Just imagine what the next tour will be like once some material has been released. Most gigs were near enough sell outs last year with next to no promotion, can't wait for the next time however long it takes.

	Clyde Auditorium
	*Tues 21st Nov 2000*