Go West and Nik Kershaw Together in Concert with Very Special Guest T’Pau
Tuesday 24th November 2015
G Live, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom
This tour really provides non-stop entertainment by world-class artists and, to boot, a superb set of musicians who make every selection come to life. The secret weapon of this tour is a set of versions of other artists’ songs. We won’t give the titles so as not to spoil future tour audience’s pleasure..but if you like Seal, Tears For Fears, Eurythmics and the like you simply need to get along to one of the dates and enjoy.
Of course, each act delivers their hits in style and with real rocking power BUT they also throw in interesting songs like Man On Fire and in Decker’s case some choice cuts from a brand new album. For several numbers Kershaw is on stage with Go West and to say that the vocal work by Nik and Peter is excellent would be an understatement. What really comes across is that this must be a fine tour to be part of; dry comments and quips pepper the sets. This is infectious. The audience at Guildford were there to soak in the sounds and have fun, dancing sporadically and clapping along. As a result the acts fed on the enthusiasm and gave their best.
Kershaw is not only a great singer and writer but a fine legato guitar stylist, many times evoking Carlos Santana with his smooth incision. ‘Bring On The Dancing Girls’ was catchy and insistent. You may be surprised that Kershaw wrote THAT huge Chesney Hawkes hit. The guitar interplay was stunning at every turn this evening and the Eighties keyboard tones duly conjured up. The bass and drum work could not have been bettered. And these songs deserved this. ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good?’ was a huge hit tonight with this crowd. ‘Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’ sounded melodic and tender, the muscular backing helping it home.
Go West have of course a boxful of quality hits, their longevity not tarnished by ennui or automatic pilot performance. Selfishly, I would love to have heard the jazzy meisterwerk ‘The King Is Dead’ which blends Peter Cox’ voice and stunning Andrew Hill /Blue Note label style piano playing across time. Indeed we get a chance to speak about this number after the show, Cox is a modest man but easily one of the best and most versatile vocalists we have ever had and Richard Drummie a fine guitar and keyboard player and co-composer. ‘King of Wishful Thinking’ was blissfully received, as was the aching ‘Faithful’. ‘We Close Our Eyes’ retains its appeal an immediacy. ‘Call Me’ is a rousing song, fuelled by axe fire and rhythmic punch.
Carol Decker has her centrepiece T’pau era hits but gave us a varied and enthusiastic opening set, working off the musician’s skills and stepping back to let the spicy guitar runs (James Ashby) through. Heart & Soul is forever listenable and well-delivered by this team, but ‘China In Your Hands’ is the ace in her pack. The audience lapped this up. The new album selections were fine and tuneful.
Drums – Phillip G, Bass – Vinzenz Benjamin, Guitar / vocal – Deeral, Keyboards/vocals – Lyndon J Connah…..Respect
Pete Sargeant
Visuals by Kieran White/KW MEDIA
For more images please go to:
GO WEST: www.Kieran-White.com/Go_west
T’PAU: www.Kieran-White.com/T’pau
Go West and Nik Kershaw Together in Concert with Very Special Guest T’Pau is still touring and will be stopping at the following venues:
Thursday 26th November – St Albans Alban Arena https://www.alban-arena.co.uk/events/go-west-and-nik-kershaw/
Friday 27th November -Southend Cliffs Pavilion https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=54B2E384-C4A0-49B3-ACBD-85C8853B8CB8
Sunday 29th November – Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/go-west-and-nik-kershaw-together-in-concert-plus-special-guests-tpau/leas-cliff-hall/
Wednesday 2nd December -Manchester Palace Theatre http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/go-west-and-nik-kershaw-together-in-concert-plus-special-guests-tpau/palace-theatre-manchester/
Friday 4th December – London Indigo O2 http://www.theo2.co.uk/events/detail/go-west-tpau-nik-kershaw
Tickets available at www.flyingmusic.BOXOFFICE.com or the venues direct
For more information about the artists visits their websites:
Go West – http://www.gowest.org.uk/
Nik Kershaw – http://www.nikkershaw.net/
T’Pau – http://www.tpau.co.uk/#
(Many thanks to Peter Cox, Richard Drummie, Nik Kershaw and T’Pau and Stuart Bennett at Deacon Communications for help with this review)
