Making us feel brand new
IF there was ever an evening of slick moves, beautiful lyrics and a palpable wave of sheer nostalgia, then Tuesday night at the Royal Concert Hall was definitely it when The Stylistics came to town.
Formed in 1968, the band now comprises two of the original members, Airrion Love and Herb Murrell, along with two recent additions, Jason Sharp and Bo Henderson, with the only indicators of their years being a showing of grey hair.
And when the foursome stepped on to the stage with gracious ease, looking cool and flanked by their six-piece band, the crowd welcomed them with all the exuberance that they could muster, something which continued throughout the set.
Delivering a non-stop jukebox of classic tunes and unforgettable hits, the group delivered the beautiful You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) and I’m Stone In Love With You.
The tempo was slowed right down for Betcha By Golly Wow, Let’s Put It All Together and their huge 1974 chart success You Make Me Feel Brand New, which had the crowd on its feet in admiration.
As they delivered a back-to-back succession of intimate love ballads and disco numbers, the cool quartet took it in turns in the spotlight. They engaged with the crowd with amusing between-song banter and, with their charismatic professionalism, owned the stage from the minute they walked on to the moment they stepped off.
Break Up To Make Up and the beautiful Stop Look Listen (To Your Heart) were flawless while You Are Everything defied the crowd not to sing along.
The Stylistics had undoubtedly delivered a crowd pleaser of albeit a too-short set which left the crowd with huge grins on their faces, and yet another memory of The Stylistics’ magical and nostalgic songs.