Live
Shalamar: IndigO2 29/10/11
Saturday night was 'party night' as the current line up of Shalamar took to the stage in what was THE night of The Ultimate Boogie Nights series at Indigo2 for 2011. There were many in the O2 complex that were dressed for Halloween weekend but this concert was to be anything but a horror show.
For those who remember Shalamar at their height in the 1982, Jodie Watley is, of course, now not part of the group but the current incarnation does include Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel. Watley’s role is admirably covered by the very able Carolyn Griffey whom the other members refer to affectionately as "Baby girl." Carolyn’s father Dick Griffey was involved in the creation of the group as a booking agent for the show Soul Train and as founder of Solar Records in 1977.
A lively and talkative party crowd had been warmed up by Daniel’s Nigerian support act protégés (Daniel is judge on the Nigerian X-Factor) but after a half hour we were impatient for the main act. When they did come, it was dance hits all the way with the occasional slow thrown in for good measure and one suspects so that the crowd and the group themselves could pause for breath! Supported by a tight band, Shalamar launched the anthology on the mainly 40 something audience in what was a very sleek and professional performance.
The show was billed as part of "The Second Time Around" tour and this song - a top ten US hit and million seller back in ‘79 - was amongst the opening numbers along with “Make That Move." The trio were like coiled springs coming onto the stage, moving vibrantly around, taking turns to change position in a three-way line, going from one side, right on the stage edge to the other side and back again – really trying to engage the audience. Stimulated by such dance floor classics as “Take That To The Bank”, “I Owe You One”, “Deadgiveaway” and “Full Of Fire,” it was difficult to get the crowd to quieten down during more gentle romantic tracks like “Somewhere There’s A Love” and “This Is For The Lover In You." In fact, the audience proved excitable at times to the extent that Hewett even had to silence a heckler raucously demanding a request be played. This, though, proved to be a minor irritation in what was an otherwise slick show.
Daniels rightly praised Hewett, their friendship for the past 30 years and Hewitt’s amazing voice, which was to be heard on several solo parts during the show. Daniel in-turn was to show off the body popping and moonwalking skills during “Friends” that made him a renowned choreographer and led him to work with Michael Jackson in the eighties. The delivery of penultimate song “I Can Make You Feel Good” cranked the vibe up several notches and for me was the highlight of the whole show with all of the band given a mini-solo slot. Hewett playfully asked the audience if each instrument and voice made them feel good. The bass solo in proved to be as good the rock solo in “Dead Giveaway” earlier in the set. Predictably, an extended version of Shalamar’s most famous UK hit “A Night To Remember” rounded off the encore to keep the party atmosphere going a tad longer. At the finish, the pure gig goers drifted off from the venue. The party goers remained for the rest of the club night.
Photos: Darren Lewis
Words DARREN LEWIS
