I suspect that the majority of the full house at the Royal Festival Hall was there for the music of David Bowie as the Southbank Centre celebrates the 50th anniversary of his Aladdin Sane album, but by the end, we were there for the amazing array of singers and musicians who made it all possible. Anna Calvi, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, Roxanne Tataei, Lynks, Tawiah and the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, I (and everyone present at last night’s fantastic concert) salute you, writes Michael Holland.
Amy Lamé compered the evening’s entertainment while bringing her own schtick to proceedings by welcoming ‘all the boys and girls and everyone in between’ to loud cheers, before introducing Jake Shears who skipped on in a sparkling catsuit and delivered a scintillating Watch That Man.
Following treats were the masked marvel Lynks – with his broken arm strapped up but still able to visit every inch of spare stage; Anna Calvi showing why she has had three Mercury Prize nominations; Roxanne Tataei slinking and Tawiah getting everybody singing and swaying to Drive-In Saturday. This, excepting Jake Shears, was the best of London.
At the interval (end of side one) one man in the rather extensive toilet queue told anyone in earshot that ‘my bladder was more capable when I bought the album in ’73’, while we all inwardly nodded in agreement.
Jake Shears, gambolled back on for Let’s Spend The Night Together and the night finished with a rousing Rebel Rebel before all the singers returned for a magnificent Jean Genie.
And then it was over far too soon, with us all wishing Bowie had made Aladdin Sane a double album.
But none of this theatre of dreams would have been half as good without the Nu Civilisation Orchestra. What a band! Strings, wind, percussion, keyboards, a guitarist to rival Mick Ronson and three singers adding backing vocals for everyone else. Bowie would have been proud.
If the Royal Festival Hall does a 60th anniversary concert, make sure you get tickets.
