Shalamar - Disco legends get you dancing at the Indigo2

November 20th 2018

London, Indigo2, UK

***1/2

Unleashing the Groove!!!

Shalamar ***1/2 As I turn up at the London, Indigo2, I see a que that goes right around the block of people waiting to get in to see Soul sensations Shalamar. Tonight they have no support, just a DJ something that seems to be quite common at the London, Indigo2. They seem to prefer to have the main act starting earlier so people can get their last train and not miss any of the show. Which I think is a good thing, I also think it was to make sure that it didn't end at the same time as the Nitro Circus at the main o2.

If you decided you wanted a boogie after the show, Shalamar had an after party Disco that went on later... so if you didn't need to get up the next morning you could have a dance to some classic songs. I live in Essex so sadly had to get my last train home, so I missed out on the Boogie action, but it looked like it was getting quite lively as I left the o2 complex. So I would like to do this in the future, because one thing that Shalamar always do, is make you want to dance... and I wanted to dance and Shalamar wanted to dance and can dance a lot better than I can dance.

Shalamar start their set off very well, coming out looking like megastars... they all look really cool. As they break into medley's of classic material. They don't look like singers that are in their 60's, they look so young and hungry to entertain you. Shame the bands backing band, didn't get the memo about being up for it... I have seen more movement in a morgue. So I think they really let down, Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Daniel and Caroly Griffey, which is a real shame. I hope Jody Watley has a better backing band, when we cover her in the future.

The medley which was based around 'Talk to Me' and 'Socket', was really good and got you into Shalamar's set from the start of it. So I think think they must have really discussed this, to make sure they had a big opening. We all know that Shalamar can dance, and we saw all three of them busting some great moves throughout the set and these tracks. Maybe that is why their track 'Make that Move', was so good. Yes! we all wanted to be like Shalamar, and 'Make that Move'. Back to me dancing like my dad, not a site to be seen by anyone.

I have to say I wanted to dress like Jeffrey tonight because he looked pimpin', too cool for school. We had fun with the track 'Take that to the Bank', having a sing-a-long to it. It's a nice fun track, but you don't want to hear our altered lyric version... a little rude. I have to say I really enjoyed this track, and new song 'The Real Thing' was really good... even though I think the title is a little dated and Shalamar should think on new material, let's do what we have always done but give it a modern title and sound. I think Shalamar could still write some of the best material, they have ever written and that you could see them topping the UK charts again... if they put their mind to it. So let's hope they do, because it is something I would love to see.

The sound seems to get fixed for a magical version of 'Second time Around', and you wonder why the songs at the start of the set where so low in the mix. This track is fantastic, as good as tracks by one of my favourite singers Alexander O'Neal. Howard Hewett vocals are really on point, and this song is one of the stand out moments in Shalamar's set. I watched it from the balcony, it was just fantastic and breathtaking and something to be seen. So I would love to see and hear this song done again, brilliant stuff.

I have to admit I first heard 'I will make you feel Good' back in the 90's, when a little known Pop singer called Kavana performed it. And I liked this song very much, and his version of it was really good. So I was looking forward to Shalamar playing it tonight, and of course this track got a great crowd response.They end on a version of 'Night to Remember' that starts off really well, but then turns almost into a twelve minute jam. I would have preferred this to have been at it's original length, but you can't blame an act for experimenting with a track when they have played it so many times.

An artist has to spread it's wings, but please Jeffrey can we have a full Moonwalk next time. I think we all wanted to see the moonwalk, made famous by Michael Jackson... done by it's creator Jeffrey Daniel so I was kind of gutted. If your a Pop fan, do you remember 911's version of 'Night to Remember', probably not... it wasn't one of their best moments. They didn't really get the Soul into it, that the original classic had. Which is a real shame, because I really do love this song and thought it would be one of the best moments of the night.

I think Shalamar are a legendary act, hence why the tickets were £40 to £70. But I do think they need to get a bigger show to command this amount of money, acts I have seen recently for the same kind of cash. Have had fire, explosions, images on the big screen, dancers and costume changes... not to mention other things. For this kind of a show, you would expect it to be about £20... but I do know that things at the o2 are always more expensive. Shalamar had none of these special things in their set, even though I think each member is quite special. The only thing that they had onstage that said Shalamar was the drum skin... yes not even a backdrop.

I think if they had something more in their show, it would have been even more enjoyable. I would good to see Shalamar again, to see if they have sorted these problems because of how good the three singers voices where. Just would have liked to here the mix of the music and vocals to be a lot stronger, like it was getting near the end of the set. In my eyes not a 'Night to Remember', but it wasn't a night to forget either... they had a lot of great elements to their set (Like each of the vocal ranges of the singers). I just think they can do better, and I can't wait to see them do so next time and see them do so.

Shalamar - Setlist
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Talk to Me
Socket
Make that Move
Friends
Sweeter
I owe you One
Dead Giveaway
Somewhere... a Love
Lover in You
Help Me
Take that to the Bank
The Real Thing
Top of the World
Playing to Win
Second time Around
There it Is
I can make you feel Good
Night to Remember