Duffy Live in Wrexham, 2008

Elly Roberts reviews

Duffyat Central Station, WrexhamWednesday, 5th March 2008


Rockferry:

  • Rating: 10/10+++

    Top of the download chart. Top of the singles chart. Top of the album chart.

    That’s how things are right now for Welsh sensation Duffy.

    On Wednesday 5 March, Wrexham’s Central Station played host to Britain’s topsinger, which must be a record for the venue and town, and it was he first gigsince the release of the album Rockferry. This gorgeous 23 yearold has got the lot – the looks, the music, the voice. And what an incredible voice it is.

    Comparisons are regularly made with Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse (whoshe’s just knocked off the album top spot), with 180,000 copies of her debutalbum Rockferry shifted in a week, making it the fastest selling CD album of2008.

    Before this prestigious gig, I had the pleasure of meeting this delightful babeat the rear of the venue mid-afternoon. Speaking with her in her native tongue,there was no hesitation in signing copies of the album, single and a magazinepicture. She was so pleasant and friendly, and stressed how grateful she wasfor my support.


  • Later that night, 500 fans packed the intimate venue to show their collectivesupport too. In just under an hour, Amy Ann Duffy dazzled everyone by givinga truly stunning vocal masterclass belting out sweet soul music. Arrivingwith “a bag of songs and a heavy heart”, this remarkable singer showedwhy she’s managed to get to the top so rapidly.

    Stints on Radio 2 and Later with Jools Holland gave us and insight aswell as a recent sold –out residency at Piccadilly’s Pigalle Club have all playedtheir part in her recent meteoric rise to fame. Little did we, or she, I’m sure,think things would move so fast, though single Mercy, the best of 2008so far, made it all possible.

    It’s always a good sign for the future when you’ve got a mixed age crowd, whowent nuts when she appeared on home turf saying, “Syt dy chi yma? How’s itgoing?” – knowing she couldn’t go wrong. “It’s nice to be close to home.”– Nefyn in Gwynedd north west Wales she meant. “The weather I see is still fine here. Anyway I’m Duffy”

    Shouts of “We love you Duffy!” rang out, bringing a beaming smile, soshe was quick to add, “Thank you. I am single, which is good right now. We’regonna start with a song called Rockferry. Here we go.”


    Looking fab in skin-tight jeans, red and white top and red stilettos, her 5’ 4”tiny frame hid what was to be unleashed. I don’t think anyone was quite readyfor what was to come. Duffy casually warmed up those incredible pipes, grinning,pouting and shimmying throughout this mournful song. She’s never been to Rockferryon the Wirral, which she jokingly imagines is made of marshmallows, with the bandand singer who were incredibly loud engulfed the venue, with Duffy’s lungs atbursting point and every lyric crystal clear.

    Next came the smooth love-lorn gem Warwick Avenue followed by the early’70s soul of Serious, a song about good times.

    Midway the band, except for guitarist John Green left the stage.

    Duffy and Green tackled the Southern Soul-inflected beauty Syrup And Honeywith great skill, with the song’s highlight, “Baby baby baby”, drawinggasps from the fans and one of the biggest cheers of the night. The firstof two non-album songs – Breaking My Own Heart, another superb bluesy-soulclassic (download only) was delivered with typical class and style.


    Innocently, she confessed before singing ’60s-tinged ballad Stepping Stonethat, “I think I’ve been in love once, once I think, but I never told him.I wrote this from the heart”, as she dug deep to get the achingly beautifullyrics to register, bringing out goose pimples.

    Then came the one we all wanted – Mercy. The opening beat set the venuedancing as it was intended to, while the blonde bombshell grooved on stagewith the opening line, “I love you” bouncing off the walls.

    She left the stage with “Thank you Wrexham.. diolch yn fawr”, in thatsweet north Walian lilt.

    We knew she’d be back for more, and the best was saved till last – DistantDreamer. “I know it might be sloppy, but I really do want to thank youfor your support”, which prefixed this stunning opus. Once again she gotthose goose pimples popping up on the greatest vocal display I’ve ever heardfrom any British singer.


    Leaving again, and not to return, Duffy excitedly said, “Thank you so much.I’ll be back, with my next album.”

    I hope she keeps her promises before she becomes a world superstar, becauseshe’s set to be just that.

    As for those comparisons with Dusty and Amy Winehouse?

    Well, truth is, neither would live with Duffy on stage. Sadly Dusty isn’twith us any longer, but Winehouse must be quaking in her beehive.

    File under: Unbelievable !

    For more of Duffy, check out the following:

    • Duffy on GMTV – interview and performance of “Mercy” (18.02.08)
    • Duffy on The Culture Show – interview and performance of “Mercy” (23.02.08)

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