A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photography by Dod Morrison Photography: http://www.dodmorrison.com/
This Ball and Boe tour is called Together at Home and features The Conjurors doing magic as an unusual support act. Matthew Pomeroy and Natasha Lamb have specifically designed a set around the singing duo to include some of their albums and collaborations. It also included a magical disappearing act where Matthew put Natasha into a folding box and made her disappear – these things always fox me as to how they are done! I had a wry smile at the ladies behind us who declared “I don’t like magic” several times as soon as they left the stage. It is not for everyone but is a unique warm up act that does not take away the attention from the stars of the show and their amazing vocals.
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The set list covered the dynamic duo’s 10 years singing together, and 6 albums. They sing songs they think will work well for their voices together, sometimes suggested by fans rather than identified by themselves, or in the case of Hero, suggested by Andrew who looks after them on tour. This song suited them both and had wonderful lyrics, it turns out it is by an American group called Family of the Year who I am now checking out on Spotify.
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The set included many well known songs, mostly from their latest album Together at Home. It varied from Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel, to John Farnham’s You’re The Voice including Take That’s Rule the World, Paul Simon’s Homeward Bound and The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman. As would be expected given their history with the musical there was a Les Misérables section, starting with a montage on the big screen at the back. Together they sang Empty Chairs At Empty Tables then Michael Ball sang Stars followed by Alfie Boe singing Bring Him Home. Tears were rolling down my cheeks during this section, such beautiful songs so gorgeously delivered.
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In between the songs there was some great banter too, they told us stories of going to Anfield the Liverpool stadium. Alfie is the football fan and had to correct Michael when he called it an arena! The comaraderie between the two of them is almost as enjoyable as the singing and they obviously enjoy performing together. Indeed Michael’s introduction to the song He Ain’t Heavy was telling Alfie he feels like they are brothers. They were talking about all the wonderful chances to travel which their duets give them. Alfie Boe is apparently “big down under”, and luckily they did mean they are soon headed to Australia, although Alfie could not resist some poses to emphasise the innuendo there and had them both giggling like school boys! One delighted audience member got included in the chat as well when Michael asked what she had been waving during the song A Thousand Years. He said it was rather distracting and must have been annoying for those behind her, which was true, the song was accompanied by stunning graphics of a tree changing colour on the big screen at the back and Debbie’s picture frame had kept catching my eye. It transpired that it said she had walked down the aisle to this song, but on reading the notice the gents noticed that she had misspelt Boe, as Alfie pointed out to her: his name is on all the posters! Later on he spelt his name out with a pointed look in her direction, I doubt she will spell it Bow ever again.
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We were not there for the chat though but the singing was not the only thing which did not disappoint. The entire production was quite something, with stunning light shows, fitting backdrops and a talented orchestra. Some members were introduced to us such as Paul who did a fantastic saxophone solo during Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street and then later played the harmonica. When they did the first song from a musical, which was You’ll Be Back from Hamilton, the back drop became a theatre set up with red curtains and both singers were projected into the picture. This meant that, if you were not as close as I was lucky enough to be, you could still see their lovely faces. For the Lion King’s He Lives in You there was an African sunset theme, for Kenny Roger’s The Gambler it was a poker table with the singers’ faces appearing on playing cards. It was all very clever and visually appealing.
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There were references throughout the evening to the fact that Ball and Boe have appeared in Vegas, as have The Conjurors. It therefore seemed fitting that they finished the evening with Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas with a blinding backdrop of bright neon signs as if we were driving down the Vegas strip. Ball and Boe both threw some Elvis style moves, letting it all go in this amazing grand finale which left us all grinning happily as we headed out the arena. It is also fitting that my next review should be Ben Portsmouth at the Music Hall on Friday night, I saw him perform his Elvis tribute at the old AECC a few years ago and am looking forward to this return visit. In the meantime I will be listening to all of Ball and Boe’s six albums and replaying their awesome show over and over in my head repeatedly. Not a show that will be forgotten any time soon.
Further information: https://ballandboe.komi.io/
https://www.cabinofwonders.com/
Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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