Live Review: Bobby Womack

Playing Melbourne for the first time at the tender age of 69, R&B veteran and soul survivor Bobby Womack emerges on stage led by an assistant looking just a little shaky on his feet. It is always hard to know what performers of this vintage might put on the table, especially when we read recent heartbreaking news that Womack has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and was recently suspected of having colon cancer. Yet as Womack rips into the classic Across 110^th Street it is reassuring to hear that he is still in fine form. It's a big song and as Womack wraps his vocal chords around it with ease his band, comprised of a bunch of seriously tight players that have played with Womack for many years, effortlessly provide him with a big full bodied accompaniment. It is a glorious start to a show that has fans on the edge of their seats, applauding loudly.

Tonight they give us a rollicking hour of R&B, soul, funk and even gospel that celebrates Womack's entire career. Introducing Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out as one of the few he didn't write, Womack dedicates the song with great sincerity and gratitude to his Gorillaz collaborator Damon Albarn. As the show progresses it becomes clear that Womack's voice has faded somewhat and he has developed a gritty weathered baritone with a slightly serrated rasp that suits the world weary melancholia that haunts many of his songs. At times the band complement Womack's vocals with a certain jauntiness and a mix with a rough edge. While the narratives of If You Think You're Lonely Now and I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much boil over with emotion, Deep Valley and Jesus delve into gospel and take us to church in search of redemption.

Backing vocalist Altrinna Grayson steps up to the mic to belt out a verse of Harry Hippie and has everyone in the house swooning. There's no chance of keeping punters in their seats when the rhythm section get it right and urge everyone to dance to their seriously swank grooves. At the very centre of tonight's set the title track from his remarkable comeback album The Bravest Man In The Universe finds Womack sliding into introspection and acknowledging that the tune is now proudly one of his favourites. It is of course the tremulous howl that he deploys to introduce a cover of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come that strikes strong emotional notes with the audience. As Cooke's protégé back in the '60s, Womack's heartfelt version of this song feels like a sad backward glance at the past until his daughter GinaRe starts singing with him and really tears the song apart with her powerful vocals.

Tonight's show is so entertaining that it feels like it comes to an end way too quickly. The crowd chant, applaud and generally go crazy as they demand an encore. The house lights go up and many start to leave. It feels like a tease but the band quickly come on stage and the lights go down on them playing I Can Understand It which once again ignites a party. Womack, however, looks tired and acknowledging that his voice is “giving up on him” he abruptly cuts the festivities short and sees that the night goes down with plenty of soulful passion on I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You. Those expecting Teardrop should take note that the song was recorded by Bobby's brother Cecil and his wife Linda. Only very few and special artist's setlist could feature songs culled from a career that has lasted about 50 years. Tonight's show is the stuff of legend from a bona fide R&B legend.