Black Star Riders at Manchester Ritz 13th December 2013

I was very excited to get 4 tickets for the Black Star Riders and to be taking my wife and two daughters. My eldest Daughter had seen Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders before but my wife and youngest had not.

Foe me it was a real trip back in time, the last time I saw Thin Lizzy being at Reading Rock Festival in August 1983, the last uk appearance of |Phil and the boys. And of course tragically Phil Lynott died only a few years later. They were my favourite band and I had seen them on all the tours since Chinatown was released.

Things were not to run so smoothly though as my wife had been waiting for an operation for some months and the final appointment was for the 11th December. There was no way she was going to be able to go and I couldn't leave her on her own at home. She did her best to stay in hospital and with a guilty heart we set off to Manchester without her.

Nearly there she called to tell me that the Hospital had discharged her and didn't give her a choice, but she had arranged for her daughter to pick her up and keep an eye on her.

The Ritz is an old cinema but has a great atmosphere. The support band were playing as we arrived and they weren't bad The Dead Daisies apparently.

We made our way further forward for the Black Star Riders and it was cracking. A good mix of their  own stuff from the album 'All Hell Breaks Loose' and Thin Lizzy stuff. The sound was good too very clear guitars and vocals.

Singer Ricky Warwick is a pretty good frontman, looks the part with his black leather and stetson, whilst the rest of the band are good musicians too. Of course there is only one Scott Gorham and you could tell he is still enjoying himself playing live.

A really nice touch was a solo guitar version of Black Rose ( or at least part of it) Played by Damon Johnson as  a tribute to Gary Moore.

Here is the set list: BLACK STAR RIDERS SETLIST MANCHESTER RITZ 13^th December 2013

1. All Hell Breaks Loose 
2. Are You Ready 
3. Bloodshot 
4. Bad Reputation 
5. Before the War 
6. Jailbreak 
7. Hoodoo Voodoo 
8. Don't Believe A Word 
9. Kingdom of the Lost 
10. Hey Judas 
11. Southbound 
12. Kissin' the Ground 
13. Valley of the Stones 
14. Emerald 
15. Bound for Glory 
16. Cowboy Song 
17. The Boys Are Back in Town 
18. Whiskey in the Jar 
19. Rosalie

A genuine shout for more from everyone for Whiskey and Rosalie not a bad introduction to live Rock music for Alina my youngest