Perth Concert Hall
16-11-17

An entertaining night from one of the most enduring icons of the pop music decades. It’s only when Lulu stands next to someone on stage that her diminutive size becomes apparent. Otherwise, Lulu has a HUGE presence to match an equally charismatic voice. Accompanied by an excellent four-piece band, she gave a performance of real distinction that crackled with energy from the start.

Lulu strode onstage to warm applause, dressed in all-black, with a black hat and dark shades, like a blues sister. Indeed, her performance was infused with a soul-filled R’n’B vibe throughout. From the opening tribute to her close friend Bowie with “The Man who Sold the World” to a scintillating, bluesy “Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby)” from her 1970 Muscle Shoals Studio’s release “New Routes,” Lulu let her blue-eyed soul roots show – a unique and powerful voice that hasn’t diminished one bit over the years.

Sharing stories of a career spanning six decades, Lulu had some real rapport with her audience between well-remembered hits like the James Bond theme to “The Man with the Golden Gun”, “I Don’t Want to Fight” (a hit for Tina Turner, but penned by Lulu following her divorce from Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees) and “To Sir with Love”. These classics were given a soulful treatment that suits Lulu’s delivery well. “Relight my Fire”, a number one hit with Take That, had the audience up on their feet as Lulu playfully teased a cheeky dance out of them.

The band gave a powerful performance of the Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks classic “Stop Dragging my Heart Around”, which, like the original, smouldered with R&B sensuality. Lulu’s band are a talented ensemble, they play tight and rock loud! Of course, no Lulu concert would be complete without “Shout!”, the hit that catapulted the fifteen-year-old Scots girl to fame. The audience went wild in the aisles for it.

Called for encore, Lulu was joined by superb support act Chloe Reynolds to give a spine-tingling rendition of “Amazing Grace”. Once again, Lulu’s soulful voice gave the familiar song a gospel choir edge. The audience, a surprising mix of ages, showed Lulu and band a well-deserved appreciation for an outstanding show. Get along to see her perform, and you’ll be guaranteed a thrilling night that really is “all about the music”.

Reviewer : Mark Mackenzie