I love ALL types of Music. My 63 years has opened me up to decades of fabulous music as it happened. From The Beatles & Beach Boys through to The Carpenters, John Denver, Glam Rock, The Philly Sound, Disco, Punk, Ska, The New Romantics, Electronic Music, The West Coast Sound, ECM Jazz etc etc etc.
As time marches forward, our heroes start to fall away and leave us, either to go to The Great Gig In The Sky or just retirement or perceived lack of an audience. I was never affluent enough to go to gigs until the late 80s. But by God I've made up for it now, although for domestic circumstances I'm now limited to Wales. Which is why I'm so grateful to have a venue like Acapela within travelling distance.
I see a lot of artists at what is my favourite venue. It works out over the year that I'm there every week.
And I go to ALL types of gigs. Solo Artists, Groups, Singer Songwriters and various Tribute acts too. Indeed, it is left to the tribute acts to play the songs of our 'lost heroes', otherwise we would never hear these songs played live again. Tonight, I witnessed a Tribute 'Experience' which is probably THE Best tribute act I've ever seen. And I've seen quite a few I can tell you.
Because the 80s was very diverse musically, we tend to concentrate on the New Romantics as the epitome of UK bands of the 80s. But in reality, the 80s belonged to a boy from Sunderland and a girl from Aberdeen. Dave Stewart & Annie Lennox - together as The Eurythmics. 8 albums in 8 years from 1981 to 1989 sealed their Legacy. And it's not until you see the songs presented like they were tonight, that you realise how brilliant they actually were. Tonight was 'ALL KILLER, NO FILLER' and we still didn't cover ALL of the hits of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.
Here are the albums - in date order -
1981 - In The Garden 1983 - Sweet Dreams (are made of this) 1983 - Touch
1984 - 1984 (for the love of Big Brother) 1985 - Be Yourself Tonight 1986 - Revenge
1987 - Savage 1989 - We Are One and 1999 = Peace
Annie Lennox (SOLO)
1992 - Diva 1995 - Medusa 2003 - Bare 2007 - Songs Of Mass Destruction
2010 - A Christmas Cornucopia 2014 - Nostalgia
Dave Stewart (SOLO)
1989 - Lily Was Here (soundtrack) 1990 - Dave Stewart & The Spiritual Cowboys
1991 - Honest 1994 - Greetings From The Gutter 1998 Sly-Fi 2008 - The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol 1 2011 - The Blackbird Diaries 2012 - The Ringmaster General
With the just remarkable Stacy Green as Annie and Rob Lloyd as Dave, the duo played their parts to the hilt.
Kicking off with a Annie solo song Little Bird, the audience knew what they were in for from note one. I'm sure Stacy could be a fabulous actress if she so wished. She had Annie down to a tee. The way she moved, the poses, the interaction, and especially the looks and facial expressions. She must have studied Annie for hours and hours to get it SO right. And that voice. Well, what can say. It really could have been Annie there singing those songs. Spine tingling and just incredible.
Little Bird
The evening was definitely angled at a more uptempo set and the audience were certainly up for that. I was seated upstairs and I can tell you that upstairs was singing from song one.
When Tomorrow Comes was next in the set and just blew any remaining cobwebs away. A real killer of a song.
When Tomorrow Comes
Annie solo was always more delicate than the band, Dave's penchant for Rockin' Out always found a place in the band but solo Annie is a much more diverse and often gentle affair;
The lovely Walking On Broken Glass was a highlight of Part One and let Stacy really flex her vocal muscles and set the audience up for one of the gentler Eurythmics songs which came next.
Walking On Broken Glass
The beauty of Here Comes The Rain Again was captured perfectly by the band, who were brilliant throughout. Stacy once again using her body to explore the song.
Here Comes The Rain Again
My favourite solo Annie track has always been No More I Love You's and I knew that the band included it in their set and they didn't disappoint me as Stacy donned her Mini Mouse ears, I knew what was coming next. And it sent chills down my spine. It could have been the record, it was that good. With Stacy pulling every theatrical 'Annie' pose in her arsenal, she recreated a perfect live performance of the song, as Annie would have done it. My Highlight of the night!!
No More I Love You's
Over the night I'm sure the audience had forgotten how many splendid Radio Hits the Eurythmics had enjoyed in their 8 year run. You Placed A Chill In My Heart is probably one of those songs. But live, it really came to life.
You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart
This was followed by It's Alright, Baby's Coming Back
Many of the youngsters may not remember that Annie & Dave had already had a big UK hit back in 1979 with an old Dusty Springfield classic in another band called The Tourists. But some of us were around then, some for both versions!!!
And they included it in tonight's set, much to the audience's delight who were up on their feet for this one.
I Only Wanna Be With You
As usual in Acapela, it was a performance of two halves. The band closed Part One with a beautifully delicate version of the monster hit, Who's That Girl and the audience on their feet.
Who's That Girl
With Part Two came a costume change and the audience were ready for some more hits.
It was the job of the Calypso tinged Be Right By Your Side to kick off Part Two, resplendent in an 80s power suit Stacy was vision of 1980s chic and 'Dave' also loosened up in his light white attire and was probably grateful to get rid of the leathers in a very hot Acapela by now!
Another highlight came next as Stacy donned her angel wings and proceeded to sing just like one with the audience singing along to the vocal chorus gymnastics. It truly was a jaw dropping moment in the intimate setting of the Acapela and a special mention here must go to whoever was working the lights on the night as they helped turn a brilliant song into something very special indeed,
There Must Be An Angel
The anthemic Thorn In My Side came next with most of the females in the audience singing along to this it was a sign of what was to come a few songs later.
Thorn In My Side
Although Stacy and Rob got most of the visual theatrics, a Big Thumbs Up to the band who provided the music for tonight's performance.
The Keyboards (and trumpet) were expertly played tonight by Chris Jones who had enough of the original Eurythmics key patches to enable the songs to sound like their recorded siblings.
The rhythm section of Barry Gwilliam on Drums and Simon 'Hank' Hastings on Bass ensured that the show pumped along when it needed and the sound provided by Maz who ensured it was crystal clear and gave the space to Stacy's vocals to sweep and soar where the music took her.
The set kept it's uptempo pace with the banging Would I Lie To you which morphed majestically into a blistering version of The Beatles' Daytripper which saw Rob being given a chance to shine and he took his moment with aplomb and some blistering fretwork.
With the audience now being held by the balls, it was a great time to unleash that feminist anthem, Sisters Are Doing Itself For Themselves which had every female in the audience singing, I'm sure.
Another of my favourites came next as the band launched into a rocking version of Missionary Man which brought the house down.
Missionary Man
We were now in the downward race towards a spectacular finish and the band returned to the roots with the electro anthem, Love Is Stranger.
Love Is A Stranger
The seminal Sweet Dreams came next with the crowd still dancing in front of the stage I'm sure reliving their youths while Stacy hammed up her androgynous best to recreate the feel of what it was like back in the day it was released. And it created quite a stir then back in the day. It was the Sound and Look of the future.
Sweet Dreams
Another very special highlight finished the set as 'Dave' left the stage to give Stacy the full attention that she deserved as she delivered a very special performance of Annie's solo hit, Love Song For A Vampire
Love Song For A Vampire
What the hell to do for an encore? With all of the big hits exhausted I wondered what they'd play and they didn't disappoint as 'Annie & Dave' recreated the 1992 Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert version of Under Pressure which saw Annie perform with David Bowie. A truly fabulous and unexpected finale to a brilliant show.
Under Pressure
It would be very churlish to make such a comment after such a fabulous show but it always occurs that bands don't play one of your favourites - so I forgive them for not playing one of my Eurythmics favourites, Sexcrime 1984. Oh, and while we're at it, Rob, treat yourself to a Gretsch, preferably a White Falcon.
Sexcrime 1984
Yes - The Best Tribute Act I Have Ever Seen- simple as that. If you get a chance to see them. Don't miss it!!!
YOURYTHMICS
Twitter - @StacyRoxxGreen @yourthymics
A real guilty pleasure for me, Annie and Co were part of my growing up and these guys didn't disappoint, hoping they come back real soon
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