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Elly Roberts reviews
at Summer Pops 2004, Kings Docks Arena, LiverpoolSaturday 3rd July 2004
The Trouble With Being Myself
Gyrating Natalie Renee McIntyre,has made a big name for herself as the wacky Macy Gray. Her recent appearance atSummer Pops Liverpool turned into one big party. For 1hr 45mins, the New York-basedsinger held court in majestic fashion with her inimitable off the wall manner.
Dressed in a lilac satin suit, huge Afro wig, she pouted and paraded for theentire night. Whipping up the crowd comes easily to Macy.There again, she doesnthave to do much to get a reaction. As she hit the stage, the crowd went ballistic.From the opening Sex-O-Matic, a funk drenched pulsater, everybody was movingand grooving. Thats what most people did all night as the atmosphere reached feverpitch. This was the second time Ive seen the lovable Macy and it was a more confident performance.
With a reworking of her Manchester Apollo (7 June 2002) set and some extra songs,she consolidated her credentials as the worlds leading contemporary Soul diva. Famecame late for the 33-year-old single mother of three. She began singing Jazz standardsin local LA bars, and in 1994 she recorded an album for Atlantic Records which wasnever released.
Experimenting with her own sound, she fused R&B, Hip-Hop and Funk eventually winninga deal with Epic Records. The result was her triple platinum CD On How Life Is,which yielded the hit single I Try in late 1999. Since then the big hitshave eluded her, but strong albums have kept her cult status alive. 21st CenturySoul with attitude with achingly directed lyrics prove theres plenty of talentbehind the showmanship. Added to that, her high pitched larynx delivers a uniqueearthy rasp.
Four songs in, she introduced herself, “My names Macy Gray, and this is myband. Only trouble is we dont know who you are!”. She then embarked on aname-shouting exercise asking each section to call out their names, which turned upthe atmosphere even more.
The crowd pleasers were spread through the night – When I See You, Psychopath,a medley of Caligula and Call Me, the stirring Demons – which was mixed by Fat Boy Slim, and Still. A trashy interpretation ofLennons Give Peace (A Manic Depression) was the worst part of the night,but she made up for it closing the main set with a chunky tribute to Debbie Harrywith a Rapturish Blondie.
The encore brought a great Feelin Good (Nina Simone), the storming Sexual Revolutionand a rousing I Try. Thrown in for good measure, as she did two years agowas singalong Oblivion, as the lyric cue cards helped everyone raise theroof (a la Bob Dylan Subterranean Homesick Blues video). This was areal blast and a breath of fresh air in a pop world that has sunk to its lowestpoint ever. Sensational performance in every way.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.