I wrote this review the day after attending this epic gig. Here it is ... My ears are still ringing but it was worth it! I'd heard reports that the Bowie mini gigs, in between larging it at festivals across Europe, were not to be missed, and this was backed up by the Q review of the Hanover Grand performance in London. I was already pretty impressed by the Outside tour performance in Sheffield 18 months ago, but nothing could have prepared me for the sheer brilliance of last night's show. Quite simply, Bowie is in top form. The voice sounds better than ever. And he was actually enjoying himself - this shone through in the way he and the band performed the entire set with such vigour. Now I'm just an ordinary guy, (I've never had it in the ear before) and I stood open mouthed at the sheer brilliance of this gig. From the appearance of Bowie and his guitar, lit by a super trouper to kick off with a solo rendition of Quicksand - or at least until the chorus, when the band kicked in, big style - through to the dance-mixed Stay which closed the gig, this for me (and a couple of thousand others) was an act of worship. Just seeing Bowie standing up there on stage is always mesmerising. The way he moves, the way he sings, the way he rocks! Cast your mind back to the Let's Dance video - where Bowie is playing guitar in the outback café and sings "Put on your red shoes and sing the blues". At that point he sways to the sound of the empty beat. Cool, I always thought. Sexy, some might say. All the signs of potential Elton John-style (or even George Michael) cheesiness were there early on - such as the preponderance of older gig goers (and I write as a 30-year-old.) There were also a number of dubious-looking blokes with a hint of a Ziggy hairstyle, or looking like a poor imitation of the Aladdin Sane sleeve, but we'll pass on that. The gig could easily have turned into a singalonga David - and a couple of times, nearly did - such as when the whole audience was singing along to Scary Monsters, which got one of the biggest cheers of the night. But this was sheer class. I felt privileged to have been able to witness a genius at the peak of his powers (and who knows it!). I even got a rendition of Jean Genie! I'd not expected this... Since Sheffield, The Man Who Sold The World has evolved a bit more, sounding more jungle than ever, and Hello Spaceboy was thankfully free of any PSB influences, and metallic as ever. And I had never expected to hear a jungle version of an ambient song - V2 Schneider - including Bowie touting a saxophone and tenor sax, Pin Ups style. The stage arrangements were simple - with grainy video images playing on the back wall. There was just David, the band and me. Oh, and a couple of thousand others, but I hardly noticed them. It was so brilliant to see Bowie in a small auditorium. Early on, he asked: "You 'ot? You wait two hours - you're gonna be fuckin' 'ot!" And high on-stage temperatures were obviously anticipated - Bowie was cooled by a strategically-placed fan, and Reeves wore a kilt! Mike Garson - has he ever had hair, or does Zac have his as well? At one point, Bowie bounced over to Reeves, who licked David's ear, much to the (initial surprise of David and then) amusement of them both. And there was lots of camaraderie between the band - Bowie pointing across stage at Gail, "you never lose control" and then gesturing to himself as The Man Who Sold The World. I left the gig as happy as I have ever been. Bowie, the consummate showman, has done it again. If you get the chance to get Bowie tickets this year - get 'em. You will not regret it!

Somehow found ourselves at the front of the queue, went in, raced to the bar, ordered 4 cans of Red Stripe each and got to stand 2-3 people deep from the front. He then came on and started to strum his guitar to Quicksand right in front of us with a huge grin on his face! The most amazing gig I have ever attended then took me on an emotional ride never repeated! Best ever.