Live Review: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Bombay Royale

Last time Sharon Jones came to Sydney she owned the town as part of the Sydney Festival. Tonight she owned Sydney Town Hall, showing off new album Give The People What They Want while also delivering on her older gold tunes and moves.

There’s been lots happen between drinks for Ms Jones, including overcoming cancer. However that small speedbump was all but forgotten except for a narrative she gave during an epic mid-section for Shout It Out And Dance The Hard Way. For an hour and a half we were given a great set, with highlights including 100 Days 100 Nights, Retreat, Get Up And Get Out and a killer version of Heard it Through The Grapevine.

A killer version of Heard it Through The Grapevine

The party moved between the stage and dancefloor effortlessly, first with Jones inviting a fab young tweed-jacketed local boy up to groove with her (and, damn he did us proud, beaming like a four year old in the middle of Disneyland), while later the band seemed to invite most of the women in the crowd up to get down. Complete control reigned, somehow, with not a note dropped, cable tripped over or beat out of place. An absolute joy to see and hear, with a brilliant live band and moves that someone half her age would struggle to master let alone keep up.

In addition to the great internationals, the night was also a great introduction to the incredible 11-piece Melbourne fusion band Bombay Royale. Wearing masks and amazing costumes, the group were warm and infectious, somehow managing a big-band-meets-mariachi-meets-Bollywood mix. Particular props to singers The Tiger and The Mysterious Lady, with tunes Henna Henna and Wild Stallion Mountain wonderfully flash and with just enough camp. More music from both, please, more often
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