Gwen McRae
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Gwen McRae
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For some bizarre reason Gwen was advertised as “The Queen of Rare Groove”, whatever than might mean. Maybe the word Soul, or even disco are just not trendy anymore. The Wardrobe is an intimate club in a basement beneath a very large pub. It was very atmospheric with good acoustics, and even the drinks were not too over-priced. The doors opened at 8pm, but I got there at about 10, which was still relatively early. The club was ominously empty when I arrived, but started to fill up at about eleven, for which I was grateful. Gwen did not appear on stage until midnight, by which time there was a healthy crowd within, enough to give a decent atmosphere, but not so many as to make the place crowded or uncomfortable. According to the All Music guide to soul Gwen McCrae was born on December 21st 1943 in Pensacola, Florida. By my calculation this would make her over sixty years old. You really wouldn’t have thought it to look at her. Dressed in a black polo neck sweater and very tight jeans she looked at least a good fifteen years younger. Still carrying a fine figure and being tall and shapely she has to be one of the most attractive sixty something’s I have ever seen. Her own four-piece band, drummer, keyboards, bass and lead guitar very competently supported her. If her looks were youthful then so was her voice as it showed not the slightest acknowledgment to age. Every note, whether high or low were struck with absolute precision. I have to confess that several of the songs she sung were unfamiliar to me, but her rendition of her former husband, George’s hit “Rock Your Baby” went down well with both me and the rest of the audience. Personally I thought she excelled on her own material, “Rockin’ Chair” and “Let’s Straighten It Out”. She also sang “Starting all over again”, “Tonight’s the night” and “Knock On Wood”. She also threw in a couple of Stevie Wonder song’s for good measure The performance was excellent and the crowd really got into the party spirit, singing along and dancing. It had been a long time since I had last enjoyed a night as good as this, I only hope I don’t have to wait as long again. |
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Why Not visit the Authors other Website, 'The Alternative Blackpool Website' at http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/bpool This Site Last Updated 18/05/05
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