Review: 10CC, York Barbican (From York Press)

Review: 10CC, York Barbican

8:13am Saturday 5th May 2012 in Music news and reviews By Ian Donaghy

Forty years ago, 10CC started creating music using a studio as an extra band member, rather than riffing through three-chord glam rock.

And before forming the Manchester band with Lol Crème, Kevin Godley and Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman’s bills were paid penning such worldwide hits For Your Love for The Yardbirds and Bus Stop for The Hollies.

10CC, a team of craftsmen were not content with three- minute pop songs. They wanted to grab Brian Wilson and The Beatles’ batons and run with them.

However, choosing the more Steely Dan route, the different writers within the band are clear, as Wall Street Shuffle bears little resemblance to Donna.

Unscheduled pre-gig entertainment on Thursday night took the form of a 30-minute fire drill in the car park. When we finally arrived into the auditorium a lowly mirror-balled 10CC logo hung like a forgotten Christmas decoration above the Barbican stage.

But this show was about polished musicianship, not pyrotechnics, from Gouldman’s latest incarnation of 10CC.

The Beach Boys’ influence brought flawless harmonies throughout Life Is A Minestrone and Rubber Bullets. Nick Wilson’s powerful vocals accompanied his other duties on keys, guitar and percussion.

The Things We Do For Love highlighted where The Feeling’s first album came from. I’m Not In Love showed that quality does not have a sell-by date and an acappella version of Donna highlighted the vocal talents on show that could have made The Eagles sore!

Though not the original line-up, 10CC remain. Graham Gouldman is a songwriter’s songwriter who could play Ivor Novello top trumps with anyone.

I am uncertain if I love these songs...perhaps its just a silly phase I’m going through.