Having spent the whole week wondering whether it was worth the four hour return trip to Bilston, I am now going to post a shortcut to this article on my desktop to remind me never to think such stupid thoughts again.

I arrived at 8 and the usual suspects gradually drifted in. It was good to see Woody, Johnny Mogs, Lost Angel, Sherman Tank, Man at the Back, etc, etc again – all clearly up for another night with Tony O at the helm. A Brummie gentleman who I say hello to at every Robin 2 Sweet gig was busy talking up the band to anyone who would listed and it was clear that Sweet are one of the most anticipated attractions at this excellent club.

After a lively support act “Sweet Seduction”, who did an excellent rendition of “Whole lotta Rosie” part way through the act, anticipation rose as the stage was cleared and the final tests went ahead.

About 9.45, the band were sighted in the wings and chants of “We want Sweet” went up even before the James Bond theme kicked in. Andy was on stage first and a big cheer went up for Tony – a legend in his own local land. Hell Raiser kicked off and I tested my new camera which I seem to be competent to handle – clip to arrive on the site soon, hopefully. It was clear the band were relaxed and up for it. Andy then talked a little about Tony Mills’ short stay with the band and the fact that he was a great lead singer, then spoke of the band as a jigsaw and, gesturing to Tony, declared “the fact is, this works”. A loud cheer showed the crowd agreed. They launched into Burn on the Flame, followed by comments from Tony about how hot it was on stage and the suggestion the band should stop moving. There was lots of banter with the happy crowd throughout the gig.

Six Teens was next up (another video clip available) and the rendition was, as usual, faithful to the original. The band are such perfectionists and an exceptionally tight act.

Andy then declared that they were in a bit of a dilemma as they didn’t know which song to play next, from a choice of Cockroach, Lost Angels or Everything. It was no surprise to me when the shout went up to “do all of them”. Andy said “we’ll do everything” (lots of laughter) – but I know he meant Everything, which followed. I’ve got a great clip of the end which again, hopefully, will eventually get posted here.

Cockroach was up next – really heavy with Bruce thumping the drums, and Andy and Tony going through every visual expression known to man.

Andy then declared that they would play some nursery rhymes to show the versatility of the band, and a very rocky Wig Wam Bam / Little Willy followed, with a short break in the middle for the band to whip up the crowd.

The banging of Bruce’s bass drum brought up the chants of “We Want Sweet” and Teenage Rampage thundered out – a really popular number with the crowd helping the band out on “But they don’t care, no, no, no, no, so…”

The most knowledgeable guessed what was up next when Andy told Tony he would take lead vocals – it was AC/DC, and I took a short clip of that, too. It featured some brilliant solo work from Steve and Andy.

Love is Like Oxygen, dedicated as usual to Brian and Mick, followed, with a Steve Grant rendition of Life on Mars in the middle, including one of his famous slips (I’ve lost the chord, I’m sorry!).

Action would have brought the roof down, but the pressure of the heat saved us all. By golly it was hot at the Robin last night. Can’t they get some air conditioning?

Blockbuster and Fox on the run completed the set.

At this point, the band reached for their towels, and Bruce lay down on his – a very silly thing to do with Steve Grant around, and Steve promptly emptied half a bottle of water on his head.

All except Andy left the stage briefly, and Andy said “now I believe when I leave the stage, I don’t come back” (shouts of no, no) “so that’s why I haven’t left the stage. Suggestions for the encore followed (Windy City, Lollipop Man (shoot him, someone, please), etc), but we got……… Lost Angels – a real treat.

Ballroom Blitz rounded off a fantabulincribloomingazing evening, leaving us all hot, deaf, tired and very, very happy.

To Tony O’Hora, I say “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”