Concert review
International Arena, Bournemouth, UK - 20 February 2001
from the Bournemouth Daily Echo by Chris Lawrenson
Spiteri still star of Texas
WITH their greatest hits album still lodged high in the top ten, there wasn't going to be much mystery about the setlist at last night's gig.
Unquestionably the most successful British female singer/songwriter of recent times, Sharleen Spiteri has steered Texas back from obscurity with the well-crafted, blue-eyed soul pop that's saturated the radio for the past five years. It's clearly been a hit with the band's audience, which ranges from the mid-20s to mid-50s - although a teen audience now seems non-existent, despite the baffling addition of a DJ on stage.
So it was strange that the seven-piece band initially gave the impression that was a tour they didn't want to do. Throwing away three of their biggest hits at the beginning, the first half of the gig was punctuated by some jaded performances and protracted audience patter from Spiteri.
Part of this problem is undoubtedly due to the weight Spiteri had to carry on stage. As the sole focus of the show, both as musician and frontman, it can't have been an easy task.
Nonetheless she eventually pulled off the band's pop promise with style. When the band injected a little raucous excitement into I Don't Want A Lover, all the pieces fell into place: Pushing full tilt into Summer Sun the group had pushed aside their radio gloss, transforming themselves from backing band into full-on rockers.
Texas vindicated themselves - but you can't help but suspect that they're itching to leave some of these songs behind.
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