Alison Moyet / Alex Cornish

On a weather ridden day going to a gig was the last thing I wanted to do. The journey home was appalling as always, I needed something to brighten my day up, yet another gig!

I have seen quite a few artists at Birmingham's Symphony Hall over the last few months, Caro Emerald, Tony Hadley and now Alison Moyet. It was just what the doctor ordered. Can I just add that Symphony Hall is a very civilised venue, I just love coming here, there is nothing to block your vision of seeing the artist in question and the acoustics are immense.

Tonight was about Alison Moyet and her new album 'The Minutes', her most successful to date since 1987, going back to her roots and to the genre of 'Electronica'.

I can actually remember the 80's, I try and talk to the kids at work about the 1980's and then realise they weren't born yet, most of them being 90's kids, what a swizz they've missed eh?

Support tonight was provided by Alex Cornish, a man, a piano, guitar and violin. His set was that soothing my partner in crime started nodding off, busy day at work you see. He was quite comical between songs, even asking for assurances his latest single release was good and if any of the audience saw him in the lobby they could buy him a drink.

The audience tonight seemed like a split between the geriatrics, such a lot of older people, you know in their late 60s and 70's and a massive lesbian base.

We sat in an amazing place but there was a slight problem during the Moyet set with two rowdy people behind us who were giving some of the people on our row some grief as they'd been asked to stop talking.



Moyet came on at 8.45ish all dressed in black, she looked amazing, very slim and half the size she was in the 80's. Accompanied tonight by two guys on stage, a no frills stage set up, just a few screens for company.

A 19 song set filled with new material and re-worked Yazoo classics. Did the new album work? With just two guys twiddling knobs and picking up the occasional guitar, of course it did. Moyet showed at the tender age of 52 she still has star quality and can hold a note.

My only criticism with the set was, the music at times seemed to overpower Moyet's voice, this is quite strange especially as Moyet has an amazingly strong voice.

I did actually like all the new material and a couple of numbers did remind me of early Yazoo stuff, slightly disappointed at the reworked version of 'Is This Love', it was like it was on slo-mo, but this doesn't detract from how amazing Moyet's voice is.

A 90 minute set which showed Moyet still has star quality with the fan base to match. I was pleasantly surprised, especially as this was my first time seeing Moyet. I will obviously be par-taking again if another live tour is announced and I need to get my hands on the new album.

FUTURE GIGS