Dreamscape - Toyah Live 2001

: Good Morning Universe :
: Thunder In The Mountains :
: Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) :
: It's A Mystery :
: I Want To Be Free :
: Ieya :

Toyah made her second live appearance of the year at the Chicago
Rock Cafe in Northampton on Thursday 29th November 2001.
She played the same six songs she had five months previously at
Ruby's in Stoke, and again the night was a rip roaring success!

TOYAH SHOWS THEM HOW TO ROCK
HER PERSONAL APPEARANCE IN NORTHAMPTON
29th NOVEMBER 2001
Review by Paul Richards

This event took place at the Chicago Rock Cafe. Part of a widespread chain of restaurant/disco complexes, the Northampton site has some resemblance to a Wild West Saloon. Lots of Americana, diners seated at tables on the raised areas surrounding the 3 lengthy bars, substantial dance floors, and a small stage to one side measuring around 20x12 feet. Above the main dance floor is a US style grain silo carrying the equipment for the main lights show. The stage is simple to say the least, no curtains or wings, and only about knee high. But the sound system is terrific, as is the stage lighting, with fairly full lighting racks surrounding and overhead.

An interesting aside are the replicas of guitars such as the one used by Eddie Van Halen, and the reproduction gold discs by Bruce Springsteen etc.

The policy of the houseowners is to supply pre ‘dance’ disco music, originated from the 60’s 70’s 80’s and early 90’s. And along with this policy, Bacardi have sponsored ‘The Bacardi Music Tour’ which brings tribute bands from these years to the venues - bands such as D’ran D’ran, The Cheat Beatles, The Jamm, and By Jovi.

Heavily advertised as ORIGINAL ARTIST was the appearance of Toyah "the lady herself appearing live on stage. Pop star of the 80’s with one of her most popular hits ‘It’s a Mystery’." Maybe the advertising was a little tacky, but the prospect of 30 minutes of live Toyah had brought me the 140 miles from the South Coast.

The stage was sparsely set. In fact there was just a mike stand and a smoke generator. Backdrop of black curtain. But the wonder of it all was that I could stand right against the stage, front and centre. It also made a useful seat while waiting the hour and a half for the show. The crowd gradually grew, mainly dancing, until at about 10:20pm the DJ suggested it would be a good time to move alongside the stage. Soon the area was packed with both sexes, and just before 10:30 we caught a glimpse of a diminutive figure in the shadows stage right. A chant went up 'TOYAH! TOYAH! TOYAH!'

The figure gave a little wave back, bringing a huge cheer. It was then I realised that I was surrounded by fellow Toyah devotees, not simply by the local disco kings and queens. The smoke machine spluttered it’s foggy cloud and then seemed to retire for the evening.

We had noticed a list of the songs she was to sing. This was taped to the stage semi hidden behind a speaker - it read

Universe
Thunder
Proud
Mystery
Free
IEYA

- so we knew what to expect!

And finally, there was Toyah, smiling hugely and looking a little shy. The cheer was deafening and she must have felt our love for her leap across the few feet that seperated her from us. The security guy had moved us back about a foot from the stage. The first thing Toyah did was to move the mike stand to the very front of the stage. She wanted to share the evening with us, to let us share it with her. So typical of the caring Toyah we know so well.

‘We’re going to do some old songs’ she said ‘and if you don’t know them then either you weren’t born or you missed a great time!’

The music was canned, but not Toyah. She was very, very live. Would she be wearing a wig in the old redhead style? No. Her thick golden hair spilled freefall to her elbows and her fringe is now looking very good. She was dressed in a shiny golden brown top and an almost full length brown skirt which, being worn on the hips, left the Willcox belly button to keep a watch on us!

She performed songs listed above with the care and respect they deserve, making witty quips between them. Each song was greeted with a huge roar of approval and almost word perfect accompaniment by us all. It was turning into a real party. A party Toyah was enjoying too. Here we stood with our lovely lady. Our own intimate version of The Rainbow or the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Was it really so long ago? My personal feeling is that time has done nothing to Toyah but add to her grace charm and beauty.

But make no mistake. this was a hard working and professional Toyah doing what she does so well. And doesn’t she always? Hearing the old standards was a delight, and she seemed to love singing them, with maximum effort being displayed as well as her powerful and dynamic vocal range. During several of the numbers she really held onto some of the notes without any problem. She used all the old stage routines, flicking

her hair around, some pogo, and generally putting on a moving work of art. And taking time to sing personally to many of us - our own 1-1 bits of Toyah. She seemed really relaxed and happy by now.

We were introduced to ‘Ruby’ now in boys clothes - ‘We share underwear’ she said. Ruby held up the singalong cards for ‘Free’ (which were definitely not needed by the way), and gave us all a good laugh. Nice to meet you Ruby.

Several audience members had cameras, but such was the athleticism of Toyah that I wondered if any shots would show a clear view? How I wish now I had invested in the mini disk recorder I had seen weeks before. She sounded great.

Eventually it was time for IEYA. Toyah insisted that the front row pogo or she would not sing it. Needless to say we did not need much encouragement, and had a really good thrash through this wonderful song.

Far too soon (yes, the 30 minutes were up) it was time for goodnight. Toyah shook hands with some of the front row - how can I ever wash again? And I mean shook hands. Not a brief fingertip to fingertip or ‘high five’. And then she was gone. How lucky we are to have shared the musical and performing skills of this lady we know simply by the one name ‘Toyah’

A footnote which may surprise you is that all of the above did not cost any of us a cent. Admission was free.

I suggest you contact your nearest Chicago Rock Cafe and persuade them to book Toyah.

www.chicago-rock-cafe.co.uk

There’s probably one near you. What say we all meet up at the next concert?

I’m off to Manchester in a couple of weeks time to enjoy Toyah in pantomime. I hope you’ve got your tickets.

Paul Richards
Nov 2001

: Good Morning Universe :
: Thunder In The Mountains :
: Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard) :
: It's A Mystery :
: I Want To Be Free :
: Ieya :

Toyah made her first live music appearance for years at The
Club (aka Ruby's) in Stoke On Trent on Friday 22nd June 2001.
She played six songs to a very enthusiastic and appreciative
crowd. A resounding success and a great night for everyone
lucky enough to be there.

Toyah took to the stage at midnight after Ruby introduced her with drag tribute to the Thunder video image. Ruby is obviously a top Toyah fan as she too never missed a word of the lyrics throughout the set. Toyah decided to forego the 80's outfits for a rather (for her) conservative image of purple top and skirt, saying that "This is the first time I have sung on stage in a skirt !"

The backing tapes all seemed to come from the "Looking Back" album but sounded very good in the club atmosphere. We were treated to an amazing GOOD MORNING UNIVERSE, which proved if anyone were in doubt that not only has she defied the years looking nowhere near her 43 years but the voice is better now than it wasin her youth. The range and power in her voice are stronger than ever making it seem even more criminal that it is used so seldom to relive her back catalogue.

THUNDER IN THE MOUNTAINS was next cab off the rank, Toyah happy to promote pogo-ing to those massed around the tiny stage area. "I wrote the next one for anyone who feels they are different from the rest of society" was the next intro, BE PROUD BE LOUD (BE HEARD) errupted to the cheers of many of the long term followers.

A collection was held for Ruby's charity parachute jump prior to IT'S A MYSTERY, and everyone present seemed to be familiar with the words resulting in a major community singing exercise. For those revellers who Toyah insisted were only "sperm" in 1981, Ruby had some cards ready to help out with the traditional anthem I WANT TO BE FREE, we were all hoarse as we turned "inside out", "upside down", learned to "scream and shout" and ended up "being very loud".

Ruby begged Toyah for a final number, "I've only got one song left to do, and this one is for the fans" she dedicated, it could only be the song to end all songs IEYA. The place went wild. Toyah said she had enjoyed herself, 35 minutes on stage and she had won over not only the long term Toyah fans but also those who were at the club for a bop and a pint. I personally can't wait until Ruby's 31st if this is what partying is all about ! Thanks to Ruby and everyone at The Club.for making the night so memorable for Toyah starved fans across the country.

Rob Cope
June 2001

It's 10 o'clock when we finally arrive and I find myself wondering how many people in the club know who Toyah is and the significance of this appearance for die hard Toyah addicts. The club is only small with brilliantly placed stage so all had a good view and could even get within a foot of her if we were quick!

The atmosphere started building up at 11.30pm as Ruby (aka John) disappeared off the dance floor and the Dj shouted that Toyah was in the house. At last it was midnight and Ruby appeared back on stage in full Toyah face paint and wig completing the ensemble with red platform shoes, I was expecting Toyah to appear in anything but normal (if

beautifully expensive) skirt and cami top. For the first time I was stunned at her smallness and gorgeousness.

She proceeded to greet everybody and one girl in tears took the mike off her and told her in no uncertain terms that she loved her. Toyah playfully stuck her tongue out at someone taking a photo and launched into the first song. Among the tracks so brilliantly performed were It's a Mystery (of course), Good Morning Universe, I want to be Free and at the end for an encore, on the condition that we all pogo'd, Ieya. There was more squeezed in between and she sang for a total of 45 minutes with Ruby holding up cards to

tell us which song was next, singing along and complaining quietly about his/her delectable red shoes.

What can one say, there was a brilliant mixture of people having a great time, Toyah was fab as usual and very much on good form, witty and sociable and I love her more than ever! Keep up the good work Toyah, please don't leave it so long again, we all miss you 'gigging'.

Tiff
June 2001