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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
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From the publicity for this event I presumed it was Gareth Gates as the star of the show performing Frankie Valli songs. However the Four Seasons Show is far more than that, it is four very talented singers – from the Jersey Boys musical – performing Four Seasons songs, with Gareth Gates covering some of the ones that do not feature Frankie Valli’s falsetto parts. We were treated to Jordan Calloway, Luke Race, Tristan Ward and Damion Scarcella – who really could hit those high notes! Tristan covered the lower end of the scale and the four of them were fabulous together. Such a camaraderie, they really seemed to be having fun on stage, and made for some perfect harmonies.
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Obviously adding a well known name from the television brings in a bigger audience, and maybe bypasses some people’s aversion to “tribute bands” and Gareth Gates is a marvellous singer. He did treat us to Unchained Melody, as one of the songs he was best remembered for. The duet that he and Damion Scarcella did of Fallen Angels brought tears to my eyes, and not just because they explained that was a song the Frankie Valli character in Jersey Boys sings after talking about losing his beloved daughter.
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The five singers each took a turn in the spotlight, each telling us a different part of the Four Seasons story as they moved through an extensive set list of all their amazing songs. A number of times I found myself thinking “I love this song…oh this is them too?!” They nicely tied some of the stories into Gareth Gate’s participation as well. At one point we were told he would sing us a song if someone could answer a simple question about him, when was he born? One keen fan got this right and there was discussion of movies from the 80s (no I am not giving you the answer in case you go to see the show!) They mentioned one of my favourites Back to the Future and then he sang the song that features in the school dance Earth Angel. We also got Grease, and Big Girls Don’t Cry as seen in Dirty Dancing, the band’s songs were popular for movies in the 80s!
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Having seen the Jersey Boys previously I am aware of the story of the band and how they started singing a cappella under a street light and progressed from there to fame and glory. This show also gives some of the stories behind the song lyrics, such as Bob Gaudio having a poor girl begging at his car stopped at traffic lights. He only had a fifty dollar note and a one dollar so gave her the fifty and her entire face lit up, this lead to him going straight to the studio and writing Rag Doll. Frankie Valli apparently commented he would have just given her the smaller note and this popular song would never have happened.
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There were also 4 talented musicians performing each song live behind the singers, including fabulous Viki Calver on keyboard with a sparkly dress to match the singers snappy tuxedos (including a few costume changes: black, yellow, blue and white!). Some of us spoke to Viki when she was loading her keyboard into the car, with Adam Chinery and his guitar, to drive south. The next night they were down to Wolverhampton, then back to Ayr next week, more dates in England and then Glasgow a week later.
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There are a lot of miles being covered for this tour, and if you get the chance to catch it please do take the opportunity. You will not replace it. I doubt there are any people who do not know Four Seasons songs, my friend and I were singing along to a few – and delighting in the enjoyment of the chap over the aisle from us who was literally dancing ecstatically in his seat.
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I think we were all relieved when we got the chance to dance in the aisles towards the end, it was an absolutely feel good evening that left everyone smiling joyfully. The fact that the singers were all happy to pose for pictures with the few fans that waited for them to come out was also much appreciated, we have grown up with all these marvellous songs so they feel very much part of our lives, even if these were not the original chaps to sing them – they are well worthy of the magnificence!
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Further information: https://fourseasonsshow.com/
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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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