Gipsy Kings thrill fans with soulful style and flair
Almost from the beginning, it was a standing ovation.
Make that a dancing ovation.
Not long after the Gipsy Kings took the stage Saturday at the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, almost everyone who could rise from their seat did. From the balcony to the orchestra pit, audience members moved to the soulful vocals of Nicolas Reyes and the syncopated percussion and hand-clapping and rapid guitar rhythms.
Celebrating 45 years together, the band has drawn a worldwide and diverse following, which endures with their new album, “Renaissance.”
But many songs that drew the most excitement were from their self-titled album, released in August 1987, which won them global acclaim, popularizing their brand of flamenca rumba. This included “Bem Bem Maria,” and “Djobi, Djoba,” and what quickly became their signature song, “Bamboleo.”
A few ardent fans bellowed the song’s name, both during the show and while milling about in the lobby beforehand. But, they had to wait; timing is everything and the Gipsy Kings understand this well, unleashing the song with a passion undimmed since its release.
Now, as ever, the Gipsy Kings’ music evokes a crossways of cultures, with blends of Catalan rumba, flamenco, pop and a hint of jazz, and lyrics mainly in Catalan and Spanish. It’s the music of life, love, grief, joy and of a people’s history. Originating in southern France, many of the group’s members come from Romani families who fled Catalonia to escape the Spanish Civil War.
Fans have thrilled to the music’s exuberance and emotion, but what is not always touched on is the discipline and rigor that this music demands, blending both feeling and precision. Every song sounded as finely polished live as it might in a top-tier recording studio.
The band has seen personnel changes over the years and the band in effect is a reconstitution, with original members Reyes and guitarist Tonino Baliardo at the core.
But the lineup sounded unfailingly smooth and self-assured, bringing to mind composer David Amram: “We’ve been rehearsing for years, just with different people.”
Creating the mood for the evening was the opener, singer-songwriter Al Olender, on her third tour with the band. An opener is sometimes overlooked, but Olender won the crowd with good-natured banter in between songs, mainly originals with familiar themes such as messy relationships and darkly humorous anecdotes such as revealing a new tattoo at a funeral.
As Olender put it poignantly in her lyrics: “I miss making mistakes.” Olender’s version of “Blue Bayou,” summoned the echoes of Roy Orbison who first co-wrote and recorded it, and Linda Ronstadt, whose version is most universally known and loved.
It was in all, a great concert at a great venue, but it bears mentioning the need for courtesy, no matter how deep a concertgoer’s enthusiasm.
There aren’t a lot of “don’ts,” but one is surely, don’t show up late and climb over the row in front of your seat, drinks in hand. A junior high student would be immediately called out for doing the same in the school auditorium.
Respect for the concert hall, the staff and volunteers, the performing artists and other audience members is what allows everyone to revel in the thrill that only live performance can give.