Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Coles Corner: 
There are two sides to Sheffields Richard Hawley.Excellent stand-up comedian, and incredible singer-songwriter.
Both sides of his character cameout at the Lowrys Quays Theatre. Looking remarkably like a 21st Century BuddyHolly, clad in dark silver suit and black cowboy boots, the earthyYorkshireman put on a dazzling display of humour and fantastic music,primarily drawn from arguably 2005s best British album Coles Corner.It also bagged Best Pop album at this years South Bank Awards.
For over anhour and a half, the bloke next door crooner kept everyone spellbound withhis repartee and craftsmanship. Hes also pretty handy at handling hecklers,even when he encourages it its all part of his stage charm that workswith devastating effect.
Backed by a superb four-piece band he brought hisopus to life in his customary laid-back manner, giving a brief insight towhat inspired each song, not that you needed it. After a jokey start andguitar reverb set to high, he glided into the lush and gorgeous ColesCorner which engulfed the intimate venue.
What immediately hits you is thequality of his singing a deep, rich and rounded voice like no other on theBritish music scene, with more than a touch of retro-Jim Reeves about it.More jokes, and a song written for his wife follows, the magnificent Oceanwhich took you to another place, as he tenderly strummed his shiny redGibson.
Chugging along came the bright and breezy Just Like The Rain, hislatest single the voice was still intact and improving with every note.Jangly guitars opened Baby Youre My Light, while further into the set wegot a brilliant Bad Sign and even better Darlin Wait For Me.
Closing themain set on a climax, tension builder Run For Me was belted out in a rockiermode with some steady rock-riffing and solos by Hawley, proving hes notjust a romantic balladeer.
The encores three songs, Whos Gonna Shoe, Im So Lonesome (at this pointhe introduced to the line-up, local harmonica genius Clive Miller who he metin the pub) as they built up a steady crescendo while Hawley and Millerbattled for top-dog, culminating in a rockabilly blast of Thats AlrightMama which brought the dancers to their feet.
A glorious night for a man from the other side of the Pennines.
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.