LIVE: ANDREW STRONG, Perth, 29 May, 2015

LIVE: ANDREW STRONG, Perth, 29 May, 2015
The Astor Theatre, Perth, Western Australia
Friday, 29 May, 2015
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
Photography by Maree King

Andrew Strong’s voice is the star of this show, so it seems odd that musically it starts treading softly, softly – more cabaret than Commitments. With the movie now twenty-plus years old, perhaps he accepts his fans have aged and might be off-put if he is too raucous from the start?

Regardless, it only takes a few songs before he and his 7-piece band are rocking some hard-edged soul, and no-one bats an eyelid to the noise or rawness of the delivery.

Featuring a multi-cultural band with members from Italy and Hawaii as well as his home Ireland, they rock hard, but still allow their boss plenty of room to show what he’s got.

Firing on all cylinders, Strong plays a mean guitar, also vacating the stage a couple of times (Chain Of Fools, I Can’t Stand The Rain) for his striking blonde female backing singer – who may have been his daughter – to take lead vocals.

Playful and charismatic, Strong proves he has arguably the best rocking soul vocals in the world with a dynamite Take Me To The River, Treat Her Right, I Thank You (the Sam & Dave song famously covered by ZZ Top), and – of course – Mustang Sally, which is a world-beater. As the well-refreshed lads in the boys room were overheard to mumble, “love this man,” – “man has a big voice,” – “the biggest voice!”

Finishing his set with rollicking takes on I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, featuring excellent vocals by blondie, and Strong channelling some Cream-era Clapton on his guitar through Gimme Some Lovin’. A mighty encore of James Brown’s Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine finished a great night.

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries