Progress Live 2011 Tour - Opening Night Round-Up & Setlist
Read on for a round-up of the opening night of Take That's Progress Live 2011 tour which opened tonight at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. Scroll down to see the full setlist and read reviews of the first show of the 36-date tour.
WARNING: If you're going to see the tour and don't want know anything about it stop reading now!
Take That brought Sunderland to their feet, kicking off their 36 date European Progress Live Tour by unveiling a fully operational 20 metre mechanical man as the stage centrepiece!
Take That kicked-off their Progress Live 2011 tour tonight Friday May 27th at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in spectacular fashion. The tour, one of the most highly anticipated music events of the summer, is the first time the band have toured as a five-piece since 1995. The awesome live show celebrated their biggest hits from the last two decades, saw Robbie take to the stage to perform songs from his incredible chart-topping solo career and revealed an amazing set which includes a fully operational 20 metre tall man the band have nicknamed ‘OM’.
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen took to the stage at 8.30pm to start the show to a deafening crowd reception starting as they meant to finish, with their biggest hit to date ‘Rule The World’. They then delivered four more of their biggest songs as a four piece including: ‘Greatest Day’ (including a huge yellow confetti canon blast), ‘Hold Up A Light’, ‘Patience’ and ‘Shine’ (which saw the band joined onstage by an Alice in Wonderland style dancing cast of dancing trees, roller-skating bees and huge caterpillar).
Next four became five, as Take That briefly united onstage ‘virtually’ through a huge video screen to sing their own version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band; creating the bridge between the first two parts of the show.
Robbie Williams then kicked off his solo set with a stadium thumping ‘Let Me Entertain You’ which had the crowd jumping off their feet. His set proceeded through his own classics: ‘Rock DJ’ (where he climbed into a glass chariot to be pulled around the stage by dancers in roller-skates), ‘Come Undone’, ‘Feel’ (which saw him winched out to the audience) and of course finishing with the amazing ‘Angels’.
Before the five are reunited properly onstage a group of ominous looking Shaolin monks adorned in red cloaks swinging lanterns walk from the B-stage to the main stage to introduce their arrival. Take That then sing the song that marked their historic return; ‘The Flood’. For this the dancers performed an amazing routine taking place on a wall of water while the band sang from the highest part of the stage.
Robbie threw himself off the top for the finale of ‘The Flood’ to the floor via suspension cables before the band break into an explosive version of ‘SOS’ from their record breaking album ‘Progress’. This is the point where the audience are first introduced to a huge mechanical man who is revealed from behind the stage and slides out in a sitting position for the guys to sing ‘Underground Machine’ (again from ‘Progress’) to rapturous cheers from the audience.
The band then move to the B stage to perform ‘Kidz’ where they start an old skool dance-off involving Jason and Howard, flanked by human chess pieces dressed in black and white. ‘Pretty Things’ is performed back on the main stage with Gary and Robbie being lifted up by OM’s hands as a beautiful ballet dancer flits between the two stages.
Next the band share a few laughs with each other and the audience about old times before gathering around a piano for a medley of ‘Million Love Songs’, ‘Babe’, ‘Everything Changes’, ‘Back For Good’ and ‘Pray’ the final song for which they get up and do the original dance routine while the crowd go crazy.
Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie then begin what has to be one of the high points of the show: new XMen single ‘Love, Love’ featuring twenty dancers in gas masks flanking the band on either side of the main stage, while the mechanical man moves out into the middle of the stadium (carrying the band), with an awesome futuristic landscape on the VT behind which takes up the entire back wall.
As the show draws near to its finale the band break into ‘Never Forget’ as OM reveals his full height (20 metres) and the band then finish with ‘No Regrets’, a fiery performance of ‘Relight My Fire’ (with Robbie singing Lulu’s part) closing the show with Gary Barlow leading on the beautiful ‘Eight Letters’ (also the final track on ‘Progress’).
Full set list for Progress Live Tour 2011:
Rule The World
Greatest Day
Hold Up A Light
Patience
Shine
Sgt. Pepper’s VT
Let Me Entertain You
Rock DJ
Come Undone (Take A Walk On The Wild Side)
Feel
Angels
The Flood
SOS
Underground Machine
Kidz
Pretty Things
Million Love Songs/Babe/Everything Changes/Back For Good (piano medley)
Pray
Love Love
Never Forget
No Regrets
Relight My Fire
Eight Letters
Reviews
The Sun (includes photos).
The Guardian
Sky News
Daily Mail (includes photos)
Daily Star (includes photos)
The Mirror (inludes photo)
Sunderland Echo (includes photo)
The Telegraph
Robbie, Howard, Gary, Jason and Mark on stage at Sunderland.
The amazing stage set of Take That's Progress Live 2011 tour
Commentaire
Had an absolutely amazing night at Wembley, 9th July and still buzzing now! Was my second night, having come to see you all the previous Saturday (2nd) too and left feeling that I simply HAD to see you again before you left the UK! Rob, I love your energy, enthusiasm, charm and charisma on stage...you really are a great showman and have such diversity, clearly fitting right back in with the other lads, yet the ability to shine as a solo performer too. I feel proud and priviledged to call myself your friend and to have been fortunate enough to share 2 nights at Wembley with you. I screamed, shouted, sang and danced throughout both gigs, loving the atmosphere and adrenaline. Hearing you sing Angels always moves me, but especially in the way you dedicated it to our deceased loved ones...a beautiful way of keeping them close. The sight of 85000+ people singing, clapping and dancing to Never Forget was amazing...I cannot begin to imagine what that must feel like for you and the boys! I loved being transported back to those heady days of my early teens again. Thank you so much for 2 incredible evenings that I most definitely will never forget! All the best for the European leg of the tour. x
will all the concert have this stage? im going to denemark from israel and i wanna know if ill be part of that/ thanks!
will all the concert have this stage? im going to denemark from israel and i wanna know if ill be part of that/ thanks!
Only 4 Days Now.....Cannot Wait !!!!!! <3
Looking foward to see the show in Copenhagen in july..
Can't wait till 30th June!! Much love to y'all xxxxxxxxxx :) <3
Can't wait til Weds in Cardiff.....sooooooo excited! xxx
Can't wait to see Robbie and the boys in Manchester.xx
ROBBIE YOU ARE SIMPLY THE BEST - I am still recovering from your concert last night - It was absolutely fantastic - you get better every time I see you - You stole the show - Take That were fantastic but when you came on the stadium shook - ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT - love you xx
I went o Manchester on Saturday 4th and what a show equally as good as the Circus tour, Well worth the many hours spent on a train to see Robbie!! I'm still buzzing from the experience!!!! it was fantastic
it was absolutely magical in manchester on saturday. most incredible experience of my entire life! words can't describe it!! x
O M G! Cant wait to see this fantastic show! So glad Take That back together, but also amazing to be able to see Robbie do some of his best songs!
Thankyou so much Take That for such a brilliant show in Manchester first night yesterday.The show was totally breathtaking and amazing from start to finish...Robbie you did an amazing job making your fans very happy....there is so much love for you out there.Seeing you singing with all your bandmates again so happy for you ...made me feel amazing.Your Progress tour is totally stunning the Robotic man and you all in the lit up suits was stunning...Loved Love Love and Sos and Kidz too.Also the wall of water and you all up the top of that wall and the aerial spiderlike dancers was truly magical..What a night.Wow truly amazing.. What a brilliant show.Your musicians are superb....Love you all Robbie,Gary,Mark,Jason and Howard. The Pet Shop boys were truly amazing too.Thanks for my best night ever.Take That with you Robbie is the best ever.Well done to all 5 of you for a stunning show.You have all worked so hard to give us all your brilliant Progress Tour live.Loved the song Eight letters at the end of the show,singing it all the way home....Can not wait to get this show on Bluray when it is released so I can relive the magical night again....so glad the sun shone on you all in Manchester.Being opposite B stage was just brilliant ...well worth the wait to see you all together again.Enjoy the rest of the Tour....You are the best band and put so much work into your music....Can not wait for the new Progressed album and new songs...XXX
I just can't wait to see this live!! In july in London baby!!! =)
i'm so looking forward to hampden.i travel to lanzarote the week b4.nothing can compare to seeing the four become five.so excited!!!.
Vendreis a Barcelona (España) Robbi te vi en Barcelona en el 2003 y en Milan en 2007, se que vais a Milan en Julio, es lo que mequeda mas cerca de Barcelona, pero no creo que pueda ir mi economia no me lo permite, ojala podrais venir a Barcelon seguro que llenariais el Palau Sant Jordi mas de un dia, aun que por el espectaculo que llevais, tendria que ser el Cam Nou o el Estadi Olimpic, en fin que ojala vengas, un beso.
Wow!! amazing!! cannot wait til July 6th at wembley!! i only have the small matter of having a baby before that, i will be there no matter what!!
HOLA! ESTOY CONTENTÍSIMA DE PODER SER PARTÍCIPE DE ALGO TAN EXTRAORDINARIO.GRACIAS POR OFRECERNOS A TRAVÉS DE INTERNET ESTA POSIBILIDAD, NUNCA HABÍA VISTO UN MÚSICAL TAN EXCELENTEMENTE BIEN HECHO,SU CREATIVIDAD ES FASCINANTE.HUGSSSSSSSSS
WONDERFUL SHOW I LOVE TAKE THAT AND ROBBIE. GREAT.
Hi Beautiful Dear "Men", What a show; only seen videos so far, plenty of them. You are really great. Wembley will be my treat (+ AMS as a dessert). Have a slight disapointment though. We are granted all the best standards but why not have given us at least one song that we never heard before in concert (both for TT and yr bit). Did u lack time for that, maybe ??? Anyway see u soon !
What a spectacular show!!!! I went to the opening night on friday 27th with my sis and it was fantastic!!! We laughed,cried ,shouted and screamed we had both lost our voices the next day.The whole show is full of emotion,Its really great to see you so happy robbie.you can see how close you and gary have become and you all look out for one another.The chemistry and the love shone through.I loved you singing your solo's but it was lovely seeing you back with the guys it was very emotional!! you were your usual cheeky charming gorgeous self and soooooo mischevious!!!! What an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. night!!! The whole show was breathtaking and out of this world and all i can say about OM is O.M.G it left you speechless.And after winning 2 tickets for the saturday night i got to see it all again and it was just as amazing the second time round.Good Luck with the rest of the tour Robbie and for those that have not seen it yet they are in for one hell of a show!!! luv u lots and luv to the guys hope you don't make us wait to long before the next tour... XXXXXXX
Can't wait to see you guys on july 16th.. The show looks AMAZING!!!!
2nd July can't come soon enough - the show just looks truely spectacular. You're all having the time of your lives and I know I'll be all emotional when I finally see you with 'the boys'. How poignant you sing No Regrets together and close the show with Eight Letters, just brilliant xxxxxxx
Went on Saturday, travelled 4 hours from Lincolnshire & it was AMAZING, saw Robbie in Berlin on his last tour & got close to stage & didn't think anything would top that - but - OH.MY.GOD. did this!! We were about 4 people back from the front on right hand side. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!!
sooooooooooo excited to go and see u in manchester,next wed 8 june .waited years for this ,and i want your babies too xxxxxxxxxxx
OMG YOU LOOK AMAZING.CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU AT WEMBLEY 2ND JULY.LOVE YOU ROBBIE. I WANT YOUR BABIES.
I'll be there ! July 12th, San Siro Milano (home of great Ac Milan) Must wait so long...
(Careful in your olympic upside down)......GREAT...♥♥♥
WONDERFUL ROBBIE in your solo mini shows....the best ever for me !!Also loved the dancing ♥sweet♥haha♥.....unfortunately I can watch only youtube videos....but no matter how small videos are ROBBIE you ´re great...(solo and among your mates)♥..........by the way do you have a picture of you hidden in the closet like Dorian Gray did ??? haha...you don´t need it so far....still a big baby♥
Yeah, 18th of July i'm going to Amsterdam, I'm really lookig forward and if I read and see the reviews it's gonna be an amazing show, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!x