Post by Jonel on Apr 14, 2004 15:04:45 GMT -5
manchestermusic
live reviews
Wednesday, 14th April 2004
Dancing In The Streets @ Opera House
Paul Horrocks
MOTOWN QUEEN: Martha Reeves
THEY danced in the aisles and on the seats - and set the Opera House rocking on its foundations as Dancing In The Streets came to town.
Martha Reeves shimmied across the stage, tambourine banging out time on her hip, and showed a rapturous audience why she is the queen of classic Motown - aged 62.
If you want a cracking night out and remember the great songs of the 60s from groups including The Supremes and The Four Tops, this show is a must.
It's amazing how many of those classic lyrics are still implanted in your mind if you lived through the soul sensation years, disco dancing in Manchester's Rowntree Spring Gardens and Time and Place.
It was the greatest era of black soul singers - and the supporting company of tribute singers who backed Reeves certainly did justice to the originals. Close your eyes and it was the Temptations, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles and Marvin Gaye.
The audience shrieked its adoration. Motown lovers called out "fantastic" and were rolled over by hit after hit, as they gyrated in front of their seats.
Powerful
Reeves chose her own numbers carefully, the clarity of her soul voice still powerful and resonant. In between, she took us on a journey back in time to her own beginnings in Motown as a secretary in Hitsville USA.
She encouraged the swaying audience to sing and dance to every number, but pleaded "don't go too fast - I'm somebody's grandmother."
She was backed by superb singers, with guest appearances by Kid Creole and the outstanding Roger Wright whose theatre credits include The Lion King and Tribute To The Blues Brothers. Check out his fancy shoes, and even fancier footwork.
As her adoring fans chanted for more, Reeves thanked the likes of Mick Jagger and Cilla Black for recording their own versions of Dancing In The Streets, but told them "that song belongs to me."
She belted out the vocals of Jimmy Mack in the build-up to her finale and we all remembered our own youth, our lost loves and those embarrassing moments plucking up the courage to ask for a dance in the disco.
As Reeves told us in that classic line, it doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there!
Dancing In The Streets continues at the Opera House until Saturday, April 17. Tickets are £10.50-£21.50 - to book, call 0870 060 1768 or visit the website below.
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/stories/Detail_LinkStory=87152.html
live reviews
Wednesday, 14th April 2004
Dancing In The Streets @ Opera House
Paul Horrocks
MOTOWN QUEEN: Martha Reeves
THEY danced in the aisles and on the seats - and set the Opera House rocking on its foundations as Dancing In The Streets came to town.
Martha Reeves shimmied across the stage, tambourine banging out time on her hip, and showed a rapturous audience why she is the queen of classic Motown - aged 62.
If you want a cracking night out and remember the great songs of the 60s from groups including The Supremes and The Four Tops, this show is a must.
It's amazing how many of those classic lyrics are still implanted in your mind if you lived through the soul sensation years, disco dancing in Manchester's Rowntree Spring Gardens and Time and Place.
It was the greatest era of black soul singers - and the supporting company of tribute singers who backed Reeves certainly did justice to the originals. Close your eyes and it was the Temptations, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles and Marvin Gaye.
The audience shrieked its adoration. Motown lovers called out "fantastic" and were rolled over by hit after hit, as they gyrated in front of their seats.
Powerful
Reeves chose her own numbers carefully, the clarity of her soul voice still powerful and resonant. In between, she took us on a journey back in time to her own beginnings in Motown as a secretary in Hitsville USA.
She encouraged the swaying audience to sing and dance to every number, but pleaded "don't go too fast - I'm somebody's grandmother."
She was backed by superb singers, with guest appearances by Kid Creole and the outstanding Roger Wright whose theatre credits include The Lion King and Tribute To The Blues Brothers. Check out his fancy shoes, and even fancier footwork.
As her adoring fans chanted for more, Reeves thanked the likes of Mick Jagger and Cilla Black for recording their own versions of Dancing In The Streets, but told them "that song belongs to me."
She belted out the vocals of Jimmy Mack in the build-up to her finale and we all remembered our own youth, our lost loves and those embarrassing moments plucking up the courage to ask for a dance in the disco.
As Reeves told us in that classic line, it doesn't matter what you wear, just as long as you are there!
Dancing In The Streets continues at the Opera House until Saturday, April 17. Tickets are £10.50-£21.50 - to book, call 0870 060 1768 or visit the website below.
www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/stories/Detail_LinkStory=87152.html