Last week we went to see Beverley Knight at the Royal Albert Hall for the third time. Bev's last three gigs in London have all been at the RAH and, much as I enjoy Bev's gigs, it's getting a bit tired in a venue that holds no soul for a soul gig and no balls for a rock gig. It's prestige venue and that's about it.
Beverley is promoting her latest record, 'Soul UK', which is a collection of British soul songs from the 80s and 90s that either Bev likes or influenced her. While I can appreciate her devotion to the genre, I was slightly puzzled by the enormous Union Jack flag that unfurled behind her later in the gig. Her band was augmented with a three-man brass section adding a different sound to some of the songs.
I've seen Bev lots of times in different venues and have to say that the least favourite are when she's at the RAH. It's a soul-less venue, too big and with a totally ambient-less stage. Bev stalks the stage like a big cat hunting, back and forth and challenging us in the audience but even she can't fill that stages' emptiness. I hope her next London gig is somewhere else. I loved her a couple of years ago at the sweatbox that is the ICA on The Strand, an intimate gig that introduced us to the '100%' album. And , on that note, where were all the songs from that album?
Bev had four costume changes as she prowled the stage, alternately singing her own hits and those featured on the latest record. She made me tired with her energy. I preferred the older songs, particularly 'Come As You Are' (with a brass section), 'Gold' (a beautiful song by anyone's reckoning), 'Made It Back' (because she did) and 'Queen Of Starting Over'.
This tour will be a success - it can't be anything other with Bev's boundless energy and commitment. But can I please make a plea for another London venue? There's lots to choose from and you don't have to go for the prestige venue every time.
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