Celebrating 50 Years of Jimmy Mack,
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS
play LONDON – ULU
on Saturday 18th November 2017
✭✭✭✭☆
MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS
play LONDON – ULU
on Saturday 18th November 2017
✭✭✭✭☆
Martha Reeves and her Vandellas - sisters, Lois and Delphine, hit the stage at London's ULU Venue to a nicely warmed up crowd. This thanks to superb support act, Decosta Boyce doing a great job of promoting his new album, Electrick Soul. *
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas have been active on the music scene for such a long time - over 50 years in fact - and so it's no wonder she has such an eclectic mix of fans. Seemingly with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years old, this quirky university venue was filled comfortably with an audience who were clearly excited to see the Motown legends.
Despite the fact that Martha is now 76 years old and freely admits that the high heels she is wearing are becoming a bit of a struggle these days, she still manages to strut her stuff and belt out the songs audiences are longing to hear. She begins by showing off some impressive vocals with the gospel number Holy Highway and doesn't leave the crowd waiting to hear her most popular tunes for too long before knocking out the 'Good Morning Vietnam' hit, Nowhere to Run. Before launching into what must be one of her most popular songs, Jimmy Mack, she searches the audience for the man who, she jokes, still hasn't come back. "Is it you? Is it you?" she asks pointing at various men in the crowd. "It's been 50 years and he still hasn't come back, I guess I'm gonna have to keep on waiting," she squeals to the appreciative crowd who sing and clap along.
With a tight sounding band and brass section behind her, Reeves also covers the Beatles, Something, Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On and Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers to Cross and Billie Holliday's God Bless the Child and with their signature looks and moves, Martha and her sisters in their tight fitting shimmering dresses, instantly transport you back to the Hitsville, US days with some rousing renditions of the classic, Heatwave and the crowd-pleasing, Dancing in the Streets.
Martha may be getting on a bit now and there are moments where she seems a little breathless but my goodness this lady is certainly a trooper. She keeps the flow going with her witty rapport, including tales of her early life and ongoing musical career, and you can't help but feel love and admiration for this amazing lady who really has earned the title of 'legend'.
Review: Kim Tobin
Martha and the Vandellas tour continue in the US. More info below.
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas have been active on the music scene for such a long time - over 50 years in fact - and so it's no wonder she has such an eclectic mix of fans. Seemingly with ages ranging from 18 to 80 years old, this quirky university venue was filled comfortably with an audience who were clearly excited to see the Motown legends.
Despite the fact that Martha is now 76 years old and freely admits that the high heels she is wearing are becoming a bit of a struggle these days, she still manages to strut her stuff and belt out the songs audiences are longing to hear. She begins by showing off some impressive vocals with the gospel number Holy Highway and doesn't leave the crowd waiting to hear her most popular tunes for too long before knocking out the 'Good Morning Vietnam' hit, Nowhere to Run. Before launching into what must be one of her most popular songs, Jimmy Mack, she searches the audience for the man who, she jokes, still hasn't come back. "Is it you? Is it you?" she asks pointing at various men in the crowd. "It's been 50 years and he still hasn't come back, I guess I'm gonna have to keep on waiting," she squeals to the appreciative crowd who sing and clap along.
With a tight sounding band and brass section behind her, Reeves also covers the Beatles, Something, Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On and Jimmy Cliff's Many Rivers to Cross and Billie Holliday's God Bless the Child and with their signature looks and moves, Martha and her sisters in their tight fitting shimmering dresses, instantly transport you back to the Hitsville, US days with some rousing renditions of the classic, Heatwave and the crowd-pleasing, Dancing in the Streets.
Martha may be getting on a bit now and there are moments where she seems a little breathless but my goodness this lady is certainly a trooper. She keeps the flow going with her witty rapport, including tales of her early life and ongoing musical career, and you can't help but feel love and admiration for this amazing lady who really has earned the title of 'legend'.
Review: Kim Tobin
Martha and the Vandellas tour continue in the US. More info below.
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas at ULU 18/11/2017
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*Decosta Boyce's debut 11 track album is out now and available to download and buy in HMV stores. You may have already heard his voice in the remix of Bill Withers’ hit ‘Lovely Day’ on the Haven 2015/16 national TV advert. He has also backed Adele (Adele At The BBC), Beverly Knight (Let It Shine), Omar (Ronnie Scotts) and supported many big American artists such as Jazmin Sullivan, Alexander O’Neil, Leela James and Melanie Fiona. His first single from the album, Place I've Made, and subsequent set went down really well with the varied audience and he is certainly one to keep an eye out for.
Website: http://decostaboyce.com/music |
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