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Thread started 07/11/16 1:21am

darthbane2k

Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Performance in London

Fantastic performance last night as to be expected. But Stevie also played a nice sampler set of Prince tracks as an encore in tribute.

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Reply #1 posted 07/11/16 11:29am

deebee

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Yeah, I loved it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with the SITKOL show. I really enjoyed his high energy Glastonbury hits set a few years ago, which worked great in that sort of summer evening festival setting, and I wondered how well the SITKOL material would come across on a boozy evening outdoors, and if it might not all seem a bit like a staid recreation of the album and that moment in the past - which might not translate quite as well as it would in an American concern hall, since there's not quite the same social context and nostalgia for that album as the pinnacle of a certain era of musical history and cultural achievement on this side of the Atlantic.

That was all blown away, though. The songs really came to life, thanks to the powerhouse band and the great interplay between the musicians. I also thought the sound was surprisingly meaty and full at the arse end, which meant the rhythm section came pounding through, driving it along. I've only ever heard the original on the slightly mushy-sounding CD, and not vinyl, so I felt like it had a kick and a vitality that material's never really had for me - especially where they developed songs like Knocks Me Off My Feet into instrumental jams that made it special and unique. Great to hear favourites like KMOMF, Black Man, Ebony Eyes, and Have A Talk With God, which might not have made it into a 'normal' hits set, along with numbers like AS and Another Star, which were predictably barnstorming.

Some really nice little moments in there, too, like the mini Prince tribute you mentioned, and the quickfire medley of hits in the last 15 mins, ending up on Superstition, which brought the house down. I thought framing the performance with his reflections about the album's continuing relevance in the era of police shootings and #blacklivesmatter gave the social commentary a punch it might otherwise have lacked, too. One of those evenings where I came away feeling revitalised.

One more thing: For a blind fella, Stevie doesn't half do a nice line in tasty backing vocalists. With every new line-up, the ageless Keith John seems to be accompanied by a bevy of lovelies - which burgeons with every new tour. All credit to the main man himself, I say. lol

"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #2 posted 07/11/16 11:32am

deebee

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His triumphant Glastonbury set from 2010 is online, if anyone hasn't seen it:



cool

"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #3 posted 07/12/16 1:38pm

BlackCandle

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I thought the 1st half - SITKOL - was great and as his opening speech attested showed just how relevant alot of that album still is.

Unfortunately, I didn't think all the noodling and letting ALL the backing singers do covers during the 2nd half was a good idea at an event of that size.
I saw alot of people leave before he got to the Prince tribute & back to the hits.

Nevertheless, it's nice to be able to appreciate such a legend while we still can.

For excitement however, I thought Gallants short opening set on the summer stage was the hands-down winner.
"Had to get off the boat so I could walk on water..."
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