10cc - 17th June 2025, Hampton Court Palace, London(ish)

[Albert Tatlock]

Boomers assemble!   (apparently I do qualify by about 18 months).

 

 

Not a picture from the show but gives you an idea to the set-up at this annual festival of about 2 weeks of shows by different artists each night in a 3000 seater courtyard of the venerable Palace. At that size it feels cosy but with enough of a crowd to give a sense of occasion. James and Elbow are performing on other nights this year. I would go to them but they are over the £100 mark.

 

 

Not my picture but an image from last night - a very sprightly Graham flanked by veteran virtuoso guitarist Rick Fenn (not one of the original 4 but not far off) and new boy Iain Hormal doing a kind of Adam Lambert for vocals not originally handled by Graham himself.

 

Well, remember the days when people here reviewed shows other than Wilco shows? Now they blow their own trumpets on their personal social media, but I'll keep going with the old rusty  trombone (to coin a phrase) that is Via Chicago. Strap in and enjoy the heritage ride. An absolute pleasure to attend what is my local open air festival properly for the first time. Fears about the weather and highish prices have prevented me in the past - though I have cycled over to listen outside to Van Morrison. Clapton, and Brian Wilson in the past (and for the latter having had the joy of having the great man walk past me from the secret artists exit door many years ago). This year the balmy evening was set fair and 10cc had cheaper tickets below £50 still available, so it seemed foolish not too. Attendance gives entry to the Palace gardens round the back beforehand, so we cycled over via a local Chinese takeaway and had a picnic on the lawn in the sun. Food and drink is available there. All very sedate and pleasant in the warm sun as dusk approached and we then made our way into the larger of the Palace's courtyards for the 9pm start.

 

I'm not a 10cc 'fan' as such, but have always loved their multi-facetted complex pop songs with clever lyrics from my earliest days of hearing them on the radio in the 70s - like some of McCartneys best songs within a song mash-ups. It did indeed more than live up to my expectations. Graham as the sole survivor of the fab 4 graciously gave plenty of acknowledgements to the other original writers not present. The drummer Paul Burgess was the original 'road drummer' from almost the very beginning, and the lead guitarist joined in 76 or so, so it really wasn't in the style of one of those old bands touring on a name with just one old bloke and a few youthful minions. I was truly impressed by the way the 5 piece (top keyboard player Keith Hayman not mentioned so far) reproduced the full sound of those classic recordings. With eyes closed Iain Hormal sounded like he could have been the original vocalist(s). His only fault was in hamming things up a bit too much for me possibly in an attempt to make up for the more staid stage presence of the rest - but their musicianship was absolutely top notch so nothing more was needed. Graham himself was playing great bass and his voice is still fully there.

 

Setlist attached. Around 1 hour 40 mins. Random notes on songs follow:-

 

Wall Street Shuffle/Art For Arts Sake/Life Is A Minestrone - that's some opening gambit. Sent memories of transistor radio plays and TOTP appearances flooding straight back.

The Dean And I & I'm Mandy Fly Me - 2 more solid gold belters. This was billed as the Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits tour, so we knew what we were in for.

Old Wild Men & Clockwork Creep - the only 2 deepcut album tracks were always going to fall a bit flat compared to their familiar (and better) peers. Would be interesting to know why they were chosen. I could have substituted preferable alternatives (even as I mentioned the other day songs that Graham wrote not by 10cc e.g. No Milk Today, Bus Stop, For Your Love, Look Through Any Window if you wanted real Boomer heaven).

Floating in Heaven - the only other 'non-hit' from Grahams recent solo album. Nothing special and taken by a percentage of the audience as the time for a loo break.

Feel The Benefit - an unexpected stand out as this mini rock opera really allowed the band to demonstrate just how good they were.

Dreadlock Holiday - the inevitable outbreak of Dad dancing ensued.

Donna - an absolutely delightful a cappella start to the encore. The old voices were up to it.

Rubber Bullets - power pop with the emphasis on the power to end. I was sitting just in front of the sound desk (cheap seats at the back but wisely chosen for that location) and things were just perfect - with them not succumbing to my usual pet peeve when bands think that power equals volume to the point of distortion. For that reason the first time I've ever got an actual setlist.

I'm Not In Love - well what to say about this. One of those songs that you never listen too because it's so familiar, but when you do you realise how good it is. I was particularly affected by Grahams bass noodling in the middle section - took me right back to the days of hearing it for the first time and never thinking how I would be seeing them right here and now in this kind of place with everything that has happened to me in between. Quite a moment.

 

In conclusion dear friends:

(1) 10cc are embarking on a big tour of Australia, but are swinging back home via the USA (Chicago in September, same month as CMAT), so if you ever had a soft spot for 10cc, they really will deliver it live and are well worth a night out. 

(2) If Wilco want a step up from the Royal Albert Hall to a Royal Palace, this is the place for next year. Anyone reading this from the inner circle? I would most probably break my £100 limit for that. I'll seal the deal with unlimited pre-show tea and biscuits at home in the garden a few stones throws away. You will have to fight for the hammock though. 

 

That is all. Ta for reading this far. 

 

[jackpunch]

I saw Crowded House there a couple of years ago. It was magnificent. Iain Hornal and a few others I suspect play in Jeff Lynne's ELO....and of course Jeff is retiring in a couple of weeks after is gig at Hyde Park for BST

[jackpunch]

I should also say, I love 10cc. Seen them (or at least GG) a few times. Brilliant songs

[Albert Tatlock]

On 6/18/2025 at 4:26 PM, jackpunch said:

Iain Hornal and a few others I suspect play in Jeff Lynne's ELO.

I think I remember reading that so I think you're right.

 

Also for the U.S. folks I've found this: -

 

10cc ULTIMATE ULTIMATE GREATEST HITS 2025 TOUR DATES:

 

Aug 27 Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre

Aug 28 Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre

Aug 29 Thousand Oaks, CA @ Kavli Theatre 

Aug 30 Las Vegas, NV @ Westgate Resort & Casino

Aug 31 Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre

Sept 2 Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre

Sept 3 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre

Sept 4 Leewood, MO @ Ranch North

Sept 5 Chicago, IL @ Park West

Sept 6 Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre

Sept 7 Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live!

Sept 9 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre

Sept 10 Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre

Sept 11 Norwalk, CT @ District Music Hall

Sept 12 Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall

Sept 13 Carteret, NJ @ Carteret Performing Arts Center

Sept 14 Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere

 

 

And this from 9 months ago that give you a flavour of how they sound. About as prog as I go.

 

 

 

[jackpunch]

I'm in Munich currently specifically to see Wilco in Dachau tomorrow.

 

Then back to UK on Saturday to see them at the RAH, before the drive back up to Durham (home).

[Analogman]

Did you guys ever go to the [Fairport Convention] Cropedy Festival?

[Albert Tatlock]

1 hour ago, Analogman said:

Did you guys ever go to the [Fairport Convention] Cropedy Festival?

Not me. From the pictures it looks like a bigger affair, though just for a weekend of course.

[Analogman]

I would love to be standing in front of Richard Thompson while be played the solo in Autopsy. If they ever do that song. 

[bböp]

On 6/18/2025 at 2:38 PM, Albert Tatlock said:

That is all. Ta for reading this far.

 

My turn to ta. So, ta.

 

I caught this show in Indianapolis of all places last year. In a *much* smaller venue, though. Really enjoyed it, I must say. Brought a Graham Gouldman Thing record for scribbles to see if they might be hanging around afterward, but no such luck. As I recall they didn't even have merch for sale at the gig, but they directed people to their Web store or something like that. Anyway, the things we do for love eh?

[Albert Tatlock]

8 hours ago, bböp said:

I caught this show in Indianapolis of all places last year.

Should have known you were a man of great taste. Ta for your ta.

[Ghost Of Bob Cumming]

On 6/18/2025 at 5:07 PM, jackpunch said:

I'm in Munich currently specifically to see Wilco in Dachau tomorrow.

 

Then back to UK on Saturday to see them at the RAH, before the drive back up to Durham (home).

 

You should have mentioned this earlier, jack! You could have given me a lift back tomorrow, if Sacriston is not too far from whatever bit of Durham you live in (as if Durham is that big)? 

[jackpunch]

25 minutes ago, Ghost Of Bob Cumming said:

 

You should have mentioned this earlier, jack! You could have given me a lift back tomorrow, if Sacriston is not too far from whatever bit of Durham you live in (as if Durham is that big)? 

 Just shout if you need a lift. I'm actually in East Rainton, so about 5 miles from Durham.

[Ghost Of Bob Cumming]

1 hour ago, jackpunch said:

 Just shout if you need a lift. I'm actually in East Rainton, so about 5 miles from Durham.

 

Just across the A1!

 

Ha! Thanks for offer. Already booked up return journey, on the train, on Monday.

 

Looking forward to tomorrow. Travel safely.