Nothing To Lose

McAlmont & Butler at the Anson Rooms, Bristol University, on Thursday 10th October 2002 remains the greatest gig that Mrs. K and I have experienced together.

Second album Bring It Back was our album, we loved it and we played it to death, so the opportunity to see David and Bernard perform on stage was too good to pass up.

I checked out Setlist to see what they played that evening, only to find that the Bristol date hasn't even been added! So, today's selection is a composite of gigs that McAlmont & Butler played in 2002.

I've taken a couple of liberties: it appears that Bring It Back was played in its entirety, with one exception, Make It Right. Even more bizarrely, there's no record that McAlmont & Butler have ever performed Make It Right live. So, I've included it anyway, in a place in the setlist that I think makes sense.

The hits are all present and correct: Bring It Back, Falling, You Do and, to bring things to a satisfying conclusion, Yes.

There are also a couple of cover versions. The Vegas-era Elvis classic Burning Love was played live, but only exists online as a VHS rip from a TV performance, introduced by Dermot O'Leary. The pair also have a stab at Back For Good by Take That, recorded for a NME/War Child album. Both were transmitted/released the week following the Bristol gig.

I was lucky enough to see David McAlmont and Bernard Butler perform live again last year, albeit in different cities on different nights. David was with HiFi Sean, opening for Erasure's Andy Bell in Bath; Bernard was playing with James Grant and Norman Blake in Bristol, about three quarters of a mile down the road from where Mrs. K and I saw him in 2002. Both were on spectacular form.

Wishful thinking possibly, but I hope Mrs. K and I will have another chance to see McAlmont & Butler in concert. If not, memories of that wonderful Thursday night in 2002 will be more than enough.

1) The Theme From 'McAlmont & Butler' (2002)

2) Can We Make It? (2002)

3) Where R U Now? (2002)

4) Different Strokes (2002)

5) Sunny Boy (2002)

6) Although (1995)

7) What's The Excuse This Time? (Album Version) (1995)

8) Bring It Back (Extended) (2002)

9) Burning Love (Live @ Re:Covered: Elvis Presley Special, BBC Choice TV) (Cover of Elvis Presley) (2002)

10) You Do (Full Length) (1995)

11) Make It Right (2002)

12) Falling (Album Version) (2002)

13) Blue (2002)

14) If You Want (2002)

15) Don't Call It Soul (Single Version) (1995)

16) Beat (2002)

17) Back For Good (Cover of Take That) (2002)

18) Yes (Full Version) (1995)

1995: The Sound Of... McAlmont & Butler: 6, 7, 10, 18

1995: Yes EP: 15

2002: Bring It Back: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 16

2002: Bring It Back EP: 8

2002: Falling EP: 14

2002: NME In Association With War Child Presents 1 Love: 17

2002: Re:Covered Series 1 (BBC TV): 9

Nothing To Lose (1:21:24) (GD) (M)