Live Review: Bobby Womack

Despite having cancelled his opening night performance at the last minute due to health reasons, gospel and soul legend Bobby Womack had more than enough oomph left to put on a show the following night. As the band came on stage, the audience began to chant and call for the man himself, with one excited fan convinced he was going to descend through the ceiling. Suddenly, there he was, resplendent in his vinyl red suit, launching right into hit single, Across 110^th Street, and pretty much blowing the roof off from the start.

The night saw him perform hit after hit to the absolute thrill of the audience. With seamless  transitions between songs and smooth delivery, it was more than evident Womack knew how to put on a show and play the crowd. You got the sense that if he'd asked the packed seats to get up and dance in their chairs, every single one would be up and dancing. From Harry Hippie to I Wish He Didn't Trust Me So Much, Womack and the band worked near telepathically in sync, whipping the audience up till they were giving standing ovations before even the halfway mark. By the time That's The Way I Feel About 'Cha came on, there were plenty of voices joining in enthusiastically with Womack's three back-up singers. The strength of the vocals, particularly from Altrina Grayson, and supported by GinaRe Womack and Lisa K. Coulter, seemed almost too much for the Concert Hall, often edging to overpowering. Nevertheless, the balance of acoustics did little to diminish the evident talent and sheer enjoyment of the music that was apparent on stage.

Despite his recent illness and exhaustion, Womack migrating from standing centre stage to sitting for most of the remainder of the night, little would have dissuaded him from seducing the audience. Living up to the title of his new track, the Bravest Man In The Universe, Womack powered through, though was more than happy to share the limelight with his musicians for some superb solos from the brass and drums. Time seemed to drag a little bit during Please Forgive My Heart, soon picking back up with a Woman's Gotta Have It. The highlight of the night though would have had to have been If You Think You're Lonely Now, as by this time, the audience was indeed on their feet.

Bobby Womack and his unquestionably eye-catching ensemble were undoubtedly the sun around which the whole event gravitated.