Terry Reid - Gateshead Old Town Hall

He was introduced onto stage as the man who has a TV programme named after him. The Voice - Mr Terry Reid!

And so the hundred or so people who had managed to obtain tickets, welcomed him to the stage, resplendent in pale blue jacket over blue shirt, white jeans and black deck shoes. His dress as eccentric as the man himself. There was a brief reference to the last time he performed in Gateshead when by his own admission he was "really unwell". Now thankfully he seems in far better spirits.

Reid is currently at the beginning of a tour which will culminate at the Isle of Wight Festival on 23rd June. That got him talking about his first visit to the festival site back in 1970. He shared a tale of how Keith Moon of The Who burned his hands larking about with arc lamps prior to going on stage. That is very much part of Reid's stage show these days. It's almost as much about the stories of encounters with other well known rock names as it is about the music. Call it name dropping if you will but I think it is just Terry Reid enjoying himself.

During the two hours he was on stage, the audience were treated to several such stories. Then of course there was the music we had all come to hear. Kicking off with 'Bend in the River' a song by Marty Robbins, he then launched into his own material. 'Faith to Arise', followed by a more recent song 'Night of the Raging Storm' about the effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Then one of my personal favourites 'To Be Treated Rite' which was in turn followed by 'The River'. Between songs Reid kept up his patter. Delivering stories in his own eccentric way utilising strange hand movements and expressions. This is all very much part of the Terry Reid persona.

A new song still in the development stages came next and then Reid did his own take on The Beach Boys' 'Don't Worry Baby'. Stories about his time living in Hong Kong led to a song written during that period and he then delivered a wonderful version of 'Brave Awakening' his acknowledgement to the coal mining roots of his family. This is a song which has been recently covered by Rumer (Sarah Joyce) on her album 'Boys Don't Cry' in which she gives her interpretation of songs by people like Townes Van Zandt, Ronnie Lane and Todd Rundgren. It demonstrates that there is a younger audience who will appreciate these songs. A conversation between Rumer and Terry Reid has subsequently led to them agreeing to perform together at The Jazz Cafe in a couple of weeks time.

By this time, the curfew hour had arrived and Reid was getting signals to wind up his set. He seemed in no mood to stop but after 'Seed of Memory' he said his thanks and ambled off stage to rapturous applause.

The voice is now a little rougher round the edges than it once was but then that can be said about a number of his contemporaries. Nevertheless he can still belt out a song and with his repertoire of songs and stories, a night in his presence is never less than entertaining.