Imelda May
O2 ABC, Glasgow
Four Stars
Given that Imelda May not only has a terrific voice, but sharp banter and a wicked laugh, you imagine she'd be the life and soul of a party. Perhaps it wasn't surprising then, that a freshly married couple were to be found in the crowd here because it's unlikely any reception could match this showing for vintage dance floor thrills.
Said couple were brought up onstage for a round of applause at the evening's climax, although the Dubliner's songs are often as far away from smooth love as you could possibly get. Lustful mayhem, lunacy and Satanic worship wrestle for attention, with a melting pot of rockabilly, soul, and twangy rock n' roll providing the musical ingredients.
It was served up by May's excellent backing band, who were impeccable here. Drummer Steve Rushton played wildly like Animal from the Muppets while guitarist Daryl Higham was particularly striking on those rock n' roll soaked tunes, like a blistering Five Good Men and Zombie Girl, which seemed to scoop up influences from garage rock at it's most degenerate.
The pace was relentless, save for a period in the encore that saw stripped-back covers of Fairground Attraction's The Wind Knows My Name and Blondie's Dreaming. Even there May gave off a level of punkish attitude, and that spirit ran into the finest moments, from a down-and-dirty blues workout on a cover of Spoonful to the rattling Round The Bend.
There was some morbid wit too, given that It's Good To Be Alive's cheerful chorus was preceded by May noting that we'll all die someday. Paradoxically, May's take on these older styles was here so invigorating as to breathe new life right into them.
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