Spinal Tap at Wembley Review!

Just got back from seeing Spinal Tap at Wembley!

It was great seeing this mystical and magical band - the Folksmen opened and they did a whole load of tracks from A Mighty Wind.

Tap opened with Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight and played an excellent show! Highlights were Stonehenge, with a massive inflatable Henge monument (18 feet tall!) complete with dancing little people! Big Bottom had Justin Hawkins of The Darkness fame jamming with the band, on a bass that was shaped like a space shuttle!

Nigel played a Ernie Ball Music Man 25th Anniversary nearly the whole show, though he used an Ernie Ball Music Man Albert Lee for a couple of songs. It was pink, though I could not see if it was a Ball Family Reserve model. He also played a Music Man Stingray on Big Bottom, and the Ernie Ball / Music Man sitar/guitar double neck on 'Listen To The Flower People'

However, it must be said that the mix was simply awful! I don't know who was mixing it, but it sounded like mush. I know Wembley Arena is hardly acoustically perfect but it sounded like blankets were thrown over all the PA cabs! In addition, the lead vocals were often too quiet, the BV's were too loud, and often the guitars were only being picked up by the vocal mic's. The bass sounded like a tuneless rumble for the most part. I was looking forward to hearing the Ernie Ball 25th anniversary played live, but it sounded like a £79 eBay special thanks to a lousy sound engineer.

Keith Emmerson of ELP fame jammed with 'Tap on a couple of songs, and despite having an iconic name, he created what can best be described as a 'din' for the most part.

Despite my over-critical appraisal of the sound, seeing Spinal Tap is not something you see every day, and it was a special evening. And seeing Ernie Ball guitars in public is always a pleasure!

Over and out!