Manchester Evening News - Mon 12th Mar
Manchester Evening News
12 March 2007
Bryan Ferry At Bridgewater Hall
Glenn Meads
Manchester Evening News
BRYAN Ferry has always been the epitome of cool.
His smooth delivery and his knack for covering other folks' material
and Roxy-fying the track is really refreshing. So many bands deliver
third rate karaoke versions, but not Ferry.
His opening number, "The In Crowd" sees the genuinely excited audience
on their feet, worshiping this youthful-looking singer, as he and his
talented band work their magic.
Slim, adorned in black and moving like a man half his age, you cannot
take your eyes off this enigmatic man. Far from aloof as his press
image would suggest, he engages the audience on every level,
acknowledging the die hard fans at the front by singing directly to
them.
Many women in the stalls look like it’s Christmas Day and they have
unwrapped a gold ring; perma- grins, as they dance next to their
seated, jealous partners.
The fans are repaid by the sexy, soulful delivery of "Kiss and Tell"
which like dark chocolate, is rich and a cut above the average.
The stage set and whole vibe of the gig feels like the opening credits
of a new James Bond film; sexy, glossy, yet strangely familiar and
always one step ahead of the game. What amazed me and many members of
the crowd were the superb interpretations of Bob Dylan songs,
showcasing his new album, Dylanesque.
Sure, "Knocking On Heaven’s Door" is done the same as most with great
backing and it’s all about the chorus. But Ferry has taken the rough
edges and filed them with his clear, crisp vocals.
During "The Times They Are A Changing" – he and his pitch perfect band
take this ‘naked’ song and dress it up but it retains the protest
element; they just add some gloss. I admired they way that many of
these enduring songs become epics in Bryan’s hands.
But, just to prove that the ‘king of covers’ is not just a mouth piece
for other peoples’ material, ‘the cool one’ delivers the superb "Don’t
Stop The Dance" which sees the audience taking the lyrics literally, up
on their feet throughout. "Let’s Stick Together" and "Love Is The Drug"
have the same effect as we are taken back in time. It feels like an
episode of "Life On Mars", in that everyone is smiling, worry- free,
back in a time before mobiles and ASBOs!
The ecstatic response featuring wolf whistles, cheers, and standing
ovations in the choir circles says it all really. Even without an
encore and the absent John Lennon classic, "Jealous Guy" – Ferry and
his excellent band give Manchester one Saturday night to savour. Bring
on the Roxy comeback tour!