Glenn Gregory, Tony Visconti, Woody Woodmansey and their band (9.9.2026).
A busy gig schedule for me but more local and I’m exploring some opportunities on the doorstep that I might not have thought about otherwise. I’ll just briefly mention a couple of these – cameras not welcome and I have no previous experience of their careers.
Caught the light and folky This Is The Kit at Poole Lighthouse Theatre on 3 September. Relaxed, with a range of instrumental talent on display.
For my other recent Lighthouse visit, the seats were even more comfortable with outstretched leg room in my treasured row L – unfortunately the Lighthouse treasure it as well on occasions – and this was in the main Concert Hall, for British folk legend Richard Thompson, joined for half the set by his wife Zara Phillips on vocals.
Very good but you just can’t cram in the deep rooted appreciation most of the audience has with merely a few hours of Spotify listening. Highlight: 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.
The Holy Holy gig at The 1865, Southampton was an experience on another level. I didn’t know what to expect. Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory on lead vocals; Spiders From Mars’ drummer Woody Woodmansey; Tony Visconti on bass and backing vocals and a stage full of talent… playing Bowie. Not all obvious hits but a hand picked and rounded set.
Tony Visconti played with Bowie and also produced some of his material. So it’s a tribute band with connections, roots, history and demonstrated talent. Visconti’s daughter, Jessica Lee Morgan plays sax in the band and there are keyboards and other guitars to add.
Glenn Gregory explains he is a big Bowie fan and he delivers the songs without trying to Bowie it up – just singing the great songs.
There are lots of old Bowie t-shirts around. It’s a very mature audience: a very genuine audience and an audience that provides that real sense of occasion. They were queueing an hour before the doors opened when we went by to sit in the nearby Sauce kebab and pizza for an aloe vera drink – food looked good – nice spot. (I’m trying – the 1865 Guiness 0.0 helped.)
Ziggy Stardust was the first of the big numbers – rather shamefully it was the Bauhaus version that woke me up to Bowie. I saw him play once at Pheonix Festival, Warwickshire in 1997. A lucky treat.
Everyone seemed to know all the songs tonight though. Transfixed and adoring. It made for a special atmosphere and something slightly different to just a normal loud cheering crowd.
Changes and Ashes to Ashes take things up a notch. I move around a bit – from my initial spot at the back downstairs I went up for a leaning view from the back of the side balcony and a sit down for the odd song. This helps the legs – it’s not just me moaning – I have a condition. I’m still going.
The hits keep coming. My picks would be The Man Who Sold The World, Starman and the last song of the main set, Moonage Daydream.
There is a ‘pretend encore’ break. Glenn indicated that he didn’t want anyone to risk breaking their necks on the stairs to get on and off stage. Glenn talks of when they were touring Canada and they heard David Bowie had died. After some soul searching they decided to carry on – they have been doing this a while then. That was January 2016.
First ‘encore’ was Where Are We Now? A newer one from Bowie’s 2013 album. To finish, Rebel Rebel.
The gig was a special one.
Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey both got a chance to say a few words of reflection and appreciation.
Well worth catching this upmarket tribute with some connections and history. Great to see The 1865 rocking on a school night..a while since any of this lot have had to get up early mind.
The Holy Holy touring idea is finishing soon so go while you can if they’re playing within reach.
Gigs with Ivan 