Sharleen Spiteri
FLOGGING new material is difficult when you have so many memorable hits. Keane tried valiantly on Saturday night to convince fans that Perfect Symmetry was worth coming in from the bar.
On Sunday night, it was the turn of former Texas front-woman, Sharleen Spiteri. Riding the wave of Sixties nostalgia in the style of Duffy and Amy Winehouse via her solo album Melody has been a bit choppy.
The second single Stop, I Don’t Love You Anymore charted outside the top 100. The long player itself has gone gold but the material itself is very patchy. At times, many of the tracks sound like poor man’s Bond themes and live it all becomes very Austin Powers.
Sharleen is dressed like Petula Clark, which does not suit her “take me as you find me” personality. It gives off the feeling someone playing dress-up, so much so that the evening resembles a Dusty Springfield tribute act.
The Texas hits like Black Eyed Boy and Summer Sun get the crowd dancing and singing like their life depends on it. Spiteri’s vocals are strong, passionate and committed throughout. She has superb interaction with the crowd; a mixture of straight and gay couples.
Constant reminder
She covers These Boots Are Made For Walking and the constant reminder that theme of the gig is the 1960’s starts to become wearing, particularly when she plays guitar, dressed like an extra from Ready Steady Go, as it looks awkward.
The set list is very rollercoaster, with upbeat numbers, followed immediately by torch songs, lifting the audience sky high, only to leave them plummeting, one song later.
The iconic hit, I Don’t Want A Lover is speeded up and given a nostalgic make-over, sapping the song of soul.
The crowd go wild to Texas hit Halo, they clearly want nostalgia, just not via the Warwick Avenue route.
Sharleen’s band resemble The Shadows meets Mark Ronson so when she does rock out, it all looks too polite and cute.
Spiteri, though has a great ballsy attitude and can truly belt out a tune, lifting the audience out of their seats. But this gig would have benefitted by having two sets; one old, one new.
The crowd go home via an encore of Tina Turner’s River Deep Mountain High, when I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself might have been more apt
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When the entire venue chants for the artist to return to the stage, i'd say that was a sign that it was a pretty fantastic gig!