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from The Evening Post by Joel Wainwright I'LL be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect from Sharleen Spiteri at the Concert Hall last night. After twenty years in the music business with her band Texas, the Glaswegian singer-songwriter has struck out on her own with her debut solo album Melody and a tour of the same name. Would it be a night just to showcase the soulful, yet powerful, new songs? Well, yes it was… and much more. Wearing a black dress reminiscent of the Sixties chic of Dusty Springfield, Sharleen not only engaged us with her new melodies, but also with her beaming smile, effortless vocal ability, and boundless energy. She admitted she had been suffering from the sniffles most of us experienced at Christmas, but showed she was a singer, and a woman, reborn. She was getting back to live touring, and loving every second of it. As well as the new album tracks, her back catalogue of Texas hits Black Eyed Boy, Halo, Say What You Want and I Don't Want a Lover, were belted out with joyous enthusiasm. But this is also a show influenced by the Sixties, and the seven slim-suited chaps in the band provided excellent accompaniment, especially on her cover of the Nancy Sinatra classic These Boots Were Made For Walking. Although not quite in the same era, my favourite song of the night was her sexy, sassy and sophisticated cover of The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go? But I'm in no doubt that gig-goers will be talking about her second and final encore, which was a peerless performance of River Deep, Mountain High. Altogether an excellent evening from a charming and outstanding vocalist. |