West Street Live Sheffield

Review of THE BARRATTS - SHEFFIELD

Very good gig though not very happy that people seemed to be allowed in for free and the promoter/rep seemed to abandon doing the door after about an hour. Why bother paying?

Review of Wilson & Wakeman

Review of Wilson & Wakeman

What a treat of a way to spend a grizzly old January Monday night, nestled in the traditionally set out welcoming atmosphere of West Street Live (nee the West Street Hotel) in the company of two of the UK’s very top musicians, keyboard whiz and chip very much off the old block Adam Wakeman and the truly extraordinary vocal skills of Damian Wilson.

Of course, with the impressive CVs sported (Damian’s on over 70 album appearances across all musical genres and Adam’s vast trove of experience over getting on for 20 years solid touring with Ozzy, the Sabbath, and Atomic Kitten among others) you’d be right to expect something pretty decent. But less known, perhaps, is the pair’s solid body of solo work and as a duo and its unvarying top quality. Add that to the obvious camaraderie of the two, and perhaps most of all the warmth radiating from these most genial and approachable lads, and you end up with a potent mix of talent used to the very max.

Using a cross section of material, much of it self-penned but sprinkled, also, with material drawn from other friends and associates (Rick, Sabbath – in jazz!, Iron Maiden and Bowie), the evening simply flew by and the appreciative audience, many of whom were “new” ears, were quickly drawn into the beauty of the songs and the truths in their origins. And it really was striking how a brand new-to-many tune could, through its story and melody, move some almost to tears at times, whilst in other instances draw big laughs when the song, not infrequently, “accidentally” interrupted itself by a wry aside from one or the other musicians who I reckon could almost become the Waldorf and Statler of the boards if the inspiration ever dried up. Not that this is likely to happen any time soon, of course – the flame’s burning bright still and long may it do so.

Damian is phenomenal. He could sing anything he liked and it would sound great. And his tunes are so melodic and his words would stand tall as poetry. And THAT voice – blending enormous power with yearning tenderness but always, always with conviction. Catching a mood in a phrase ( You’ll learn/The world will solve her problems on her own), augmented by Adam’s sweeping and innovative accompaniments. Every song a small, exquisite Fabergé egg of its own. And when the intake of gallons of Yorkshire Tea took its inevitable toll, who better to take the journey forward than Adam with a full-on jazz interpretation of Iron Man of all things, bowling along like a slowly cresting surf wave and raising a huge appreciative cheer. And finally, there’s the stage presence, Damian often handshaking the audience mid-song and once, memorably, delivering an entire song mid-crowd with no microphone! – a massive ovation following.

It was one of those nights – it really was - and not just for me. The sea of cheerful grins as the crowd made its way out after being individually thanked by the boys, told its own tale. One of the very best shows I’ve seen in many a year and I’d happily go again next week if they were within reach!