THE air of excited expectation was shattered by a sound so deafening as to render lyrics unintelligible. The sound man was obviously a Spinal Tap cast-off, treble and reverb settings up, volume up to Tap’s eleven-on-the-dial.

At the interval, the front-of-house knob-twiddler was mobbed by outraged audience members, but remained superior.

“Are you a sound engineer?” he said to one plea for less volume.

Some defected into the night, while others tackled the hapless Royal Hall staff.

The duty manager promised to pass on the message.

As a result the second half revealed clarity of individual instruments, a relief from the first set’s wall of sound.

Cincotti’s considerable piano skills were now more apparent, alternating gentle melodies with exciting, two-fisted, stand-up rocking, Jerry Lee Lewis-style. However, traces of the sound man on the treble and reverb remained to occasionally mar the clarity of his appealing vocals.

Remembering Cincotti’s treatments of the American songbook on Michael Parkinson shows prompted a re-think into tonight’s programme of Cincotti-penned originals.

No problem for the majority of avid followers, who whooped appreciation at favourites recognised.

The four-piece band was perfection, bass guitar, organ/keyboards, drums and tenor saxophone providing solos and elegant tone colours to the changing moods of the Cincotti songs, mostly from his East Of Angel Town album, others brand new.

Disappointing that the sound marred one of only two UK appearances by Peter Cincotti’s band.