I got my belated birthday pressie last night - and went off to a gig at the new O2 arena at the Millenium Dome. The line up? The Blind Boys of Alabama (grammy award winning gospel artists with their band) and Mavis Staples (of the Staples Singers). I had seen neither live and was pretty excited...but somehow felt that the BBOA were the support with Mavis as the main gig.
The Indigo2 room at the Arena is pretty special - ambience, space, comfortable seats and a great stage...the balcony above us (woulda cost another £10 per ticket!) had individual tables for 2 or 3 seats and a bar. Although I think Andy thought that the downstairs would be 'inferior' - in fact we felt closer to the action and we three rows from the stage, slightly to left.
We thought we were gonna be late, but the gig didn't start til 8pm. The Blind Boys came on just as their website depicts, in a chain with hands on each others shoulders. I didn't know any of the songs, but that didn't matter - such depth of voice, faces telling the story as they sang and humour between songs as well as passionate talk of God and their faith. The signature 'Amazing Grace' sung to the tune of 'House of the Rising Sun' was spectacular and the lead singer, Jimmy Carter came down into the crowd at one point where he did a full loop, singing, shaking hands and refusing to go back on stage at one point! The other highlight was another main (from the website, I think it was Bishop Billy Bowers) singer sitting almost entirely still when he wasn't required to sing and yet bursting into the most powerful and compelling performance at various points - and shaking his tail feather!!
Fantastic and then the interval - it was already 9.45pm and we knew we probably would have to leave early to get Matilda...Mavis Staples was good, slick, passionate, a richness and silkiness to her voice which gave me goosebumps. The disappointment was the all white band who just didn't seem to tie in with the soul of her music and at the point where the guitarist went into a Jimi Hendrix style solo sesh, we decided to go.
I'm knackered this morning and my throat and hands hurt from singing, whooping and clapping! Brilliant time and so nice to be out and enjoying live music....thanks Andy man for a great gift!!
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