It was an honour that Paul Casey along with Dan Millar trusted us enough to fly in from Ireland for a one-off gig, returning home early the very next day. We don’t take that commitment lightly and appreciate the fact they made such an effort on behalf of the LRB.
After a wonderful introduction from J outlining Paul’s credentials, association & friendship with the late and much missed Chris Rea, Paul opened with She Could Be, the opening track from Paul’s 2024 album, LIFE IN REVERSE.
This great song set the tone for what was to be a class leading intimate performance rarely witnessed unless you are very fortunate indeed, as we were tonight.
The smiles on Paul and Dans faces as they seamlessly interlaced guitar riffs amid the smoke haze, said so much about the joy they both enjoy and express as they perform live.
Next, after some stage banter with Dan and a beautiful Spanish flavoured intro from Paul, we were to enjoy Last Goodbye from Paul’s 2017 live album SOLO…
Paul, is clearly overjoyed to be here as he retunes and introduces Dan Millar before, on a more serious note, he introduces You Are, a song written for a friend, a father, who lost his daughter to suicide. This is the opening track on LIFE IN REVERSE, another great album we should all own.
Dan tells us about how, after sound check, we lost them as they walked along way to the pub for a beer and needed an Uber to get back again… laughs…
Paul, is now demonstrating, not for the last time tonight, his slide guitar prowess as he leads into the bluesy Let Me Show You from the 2008 album, SONGS IN OPEN TUNING. The applause after these songs, says it all… Although we are a lot quieter between songs than in Ireland. ‘No Chicken Wire Required’… Laughs…
Paul suggests we all sing along to this next song, I Do. (I wish I could type in his gorgeous Irish accent). That had the LRB choir in fine voice, always remember, if you come to the LRB, you are part of the band… It takes an audience to make a show.
Now Paul tells us how he came across Chris Rea on the ROAD TO HELL Tour and met him on the BANANA SKIN tour, handing him a tape that Chris loved, and the rest is history, opening shows for Chris and playing in his band. SHAMROCK DIARIES is Paul’s bible to this day.
This led to the story of how Paul wrote St Jeannet after the village in France he couldn’t visit during Covid, to see musician friends who play to raise funds to install defibrillator machines. The song purposely reflects the mood of On The Beach, another homage to Chris Rea.
The interlaced guitars with Paul and Dan are a joy to listen to as they naturally feed off each other creating a masterful performance far greater than the individual parts.
So, it’s no surprise that next we enjoy On The Beach, in its purest form, much like the way it was originally written. That was very special…
Here it is, filmed and recorded on the evening
Paul asks, “can we do one more quiet one before we take the roof off”? Of course he can, and so we relax into the dreamy Long Road Back from the 2023 album of the same name…. Another beautiful performance…
Paul wrote Still In Love With You for his wife which was picked up by an American TV series about Aliens, they paid him, so it didn’t matter. He had a good laugh about the inappropriateness of it… laughs… Track 8 on LIFE IN REVERSE and we get to enjoy it now as the LRB choir join in once more…
As we start to wrap things up Paul tells the story about a friend who let him crash after a night of drinking… Crash, ending in the theme from Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side… and another chance for the LRB Choir to join in with more exquisite guitar playing from Paul and Dan. “We can do this all night” exclaims Paul mid solo as the jam session continues…
Dan thanks all of us involved with setting up the LRB and promises to spread the word and come back before telling us about the CHRIS REA EXPERIENCE coming soon…
Paul fills in with details on how the REA MAGINED tour evolved and how much fun it is before he picks up my Emerald X20 (where Dan Works) guitar, tuned to open E although not ideally set up for slide, to perform Road To Hell. (It’s a treat to witness such an accomplished player play your own instrument, I can’t blame the guitar for my failings )
Wow, that was amazing and leads nicely into the last song, as Paul expresses his desire to come back again, before launching into another Chris Rea classic, Stainsby Girls, acoustic, like you have never heard it with more guitar interlaced jamming, You have to get to the gig for these treats…
A standing ovation followed with calls for more that could not be ignored.
Paul tells how he used to write songs for his Ma, and she wouldn’t like them… laughs. This was the first song where she said, ‘That’s not bad’, a real seal of approval from a serious critic…
And so we get to close the show with the beautiful Far, which can be found on Paul’s 2017 live SOLO album.
Thank you Paul Casey and Dan Millar for a wonderful evening which everyone enjoyed, this is what live music is all about.
Imogen Clark
Imogen, hailing from Western Sydney now living in Nashville, opens with her first appearance at LRB to a full house as she closes her 2026 UK tour.
Having been nominated for an Aria and Golden Guitar for CHOKING ON FUEL, Imogen treated us to more great music.
Collide is the opening song, the title song and opening track from her 2017 COLLIDE Album…
Imogen tells us that her father was born in Essex but travelled to Australia as a £10 Pom back in the day, so she feels connected to the UK and frequently tours this isle sharing with us her songs.
Now we have a new song, Turnkey Man written about the challenges of finding the right romantic relationship that most people can relate to in some way.
Squinters from the 2025 CHOKING ON FUEL album is an interesting song, inspired by the nickname commuters in Western Sydney enjoy as they are to be seen driving home into the sunset squinting all the way… laughs…
Next, we have a new unreleased song, born of heartbreak as so many great songs are. Leave Her Alone is destined to be the title of a forthcoming album.
When You Know, another new song, was written with Melanie Dyer as Imogen toured Australia carrying her heartbreak.
If you want to hear really new music and see how songs grow, there is no better place than gigs like this as you support independent live music.
It’s time for a happier song now, ‘major chords with sad lyrics, but it sounds happy’… laughs… Late Night Girl, again from the COLLIDE album.
Imogen is clearly happy to be at the LRB on the very last show of her UK tour and appreciates the UK listening audience.
After asking permission to swear, Imogen plays another new song never played live before at all.
You Showed Me has been recorded and mastered for the new album, so it was a treat to enjoy the very first public hearing and that she trusted us enough to do this for us…
This next song was written with Colin Hay from Men at Work, about a friend and mentor Imogen lost to depression, Glen Hannah, First Class Man. Colin had experienced a similar trauma so was able to empathise with Imogen’s experience bringing further insight into the lyrics.
Imogen is very happy to promote and sell her CDs as she is flying home the next day and doesn’t need the baggage… laughs…
All Hard Feelings, written with Sinead Burgess and Blake O’Connor, is next, as Imogen tells us that she has never gotten over anything in her life and always holds a grudge… laughs… ”That’s just who I am” laughs… Another song from the CHOKING ON FUEL album…
Next, Imogen moves to the LRB house piano for The Last Of Me, after thanking all the LRB team for their hard work. We were lucky to enjoy this as Imogen couldn’t lug a piano around on the tour.
All too soon, it’s time for the last song and Imogen shares her gratitude for the opportunity to play her music for us all on this tour.
So we finish with a song she wrote with Jim Lauderdale and that features Tommy Emmanuel playing guitar on the album in a way that Imogen freely admits she could never do. If Your Heart Never Breaks. Both these last songs can be found on the excellent CHOKING ON FUEL album…
Thank you Imogen Clark… that was lovely…
THANK YOU TO THE ARTISTS: PAUL CASEY and DAN MILLAR + IMOGEN CLARK
Thanks to everyone involved with the production: Q, sound engineer and Geoff, lighting tech; The fabulous little rabbit crew of Chris on video cameras and setup, Stan on setup and artist merchandise; Lyn with artist and guest hospitality; Brian running Little Rabbit Bar and big thanks to Chris and Rebecca, Bob for assistance on the evening.
Review: Chris
Video cams: Chris
Photography: Andy Sheard
Artist/guest hospitality: Lyn
Artist Merchandise: Stan
AV editing & audio mix: J
Artists: Paul Casey and Dan Millar + Imogen Clark
Sound: Q
Lighting crew: Geoff Lee
To all wonderful LRB guests and friends who support live music at LRB, big thanks for filling LRB full, and hope to see y’all on Saturday 15 August for DANNI NICHOLLS with her full band. Incidentially making a barn record for number of appearances! Playing the pre interval slot is the amazing VIC ALLEN. Big thanks to the new guests and all your lovely comments.
Thank you everyone.
Best wishes, Keep Safe & See Y’all soon
The LRB team
