Mike + The Mechanics: 2015 – US-Tour – gig report

This was my second show as I had seen the show at the sands casino a few days earlier. The New York City show was the secound date to feature long time Genesis touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer as the opening act.

Daryl opened with a fantastic version of Shock The Monkey. He played mostly songs from his own albums including Heavy Heart which is among my favorite pieces of music from Daryl. He played about six songs in total he said to the audience that he was so happy Mike asked him to join the tour and he was happy to play smaller venues and have a more intimate connection with the audience.

The Mechanics set list was the same since their secound date. The opened with Beggar On A Beach Of Gold. Then went into a great version of Get Up Andrew really nails this song. Mike then speaks to the audience saying it’s been awhile since the Mechanics have been in the USA and did not know why. He said the mechanics really first hit it big in America with Silent Running which the audience reacted to
with great approval. More acoustic guitar driven songs such as Another Cup Of Coffee and Over My Shoulders ounded great.

Keyboardist Luke Juby played bass on Over My Shoulder and did the whistling part which got a nice reaction from the audience. I must say on the Road album first came out I was not impressed and did not really care for it, however I really enjoyed the live versions of Try To Save Meand The Road It has given me a new appreciation of that album.

Tim Howar has big voice and works well with more of the “rock” songs such as the Genesis songs Turn It On Again and I Can’t Danceand the Mechanics songs such as Seeing Is Believingand the hit song from the debut album All I Need Is A Miracle. The main set ended with The Living Years a song so associated with Paul Carrack. Andrew Roachford has been able to make this song his own. It now has a gospel feel
to it. I find it to me more emotional. They closed with an extended Word Of Mouth which Tim had the audience up on its feet for.

I felt a little disappointed for the band playing in New York City that the turnout was not better. I would estimate only a few hundred people were in attendance. The band was totally into the performance and played with a lot of energy through the night. Last fall when I heard the Mechanics were going to tour the USA I was so excited as I never had never had chance to see the original lineup with the two Paul’s. This version of the Mechanics has left me wanting more. I hope they put out another album and tour the USA again in the future. It was great show in New York City I had such a great time. If you have a chance to see the Mechanics on their USA tour I recommend you do.

by Frank Mitchell

Set list

1. A Beggar on a Beach of Gold
2. Get Up
3. Silent Running
4. Another Cup of Coffee
5. Seeing Is Believing
6. Try to Save Me
7. Turn It On Again
8. The Road
9. Over My Shoulder
10. Nobody’s Perfect
11. Cuddly Toy
12. I Can’t Dance
13. The Living Years
14. All I Need Is a Miracle

Encore
15. Word of Mouth