(seen at the performance on 26th September 2022)
Leonine and benign, at 75 still driving the fans wild, David Essex relaxed on the vast Palladium stage on the last night of his (apparently) final UK solo tour. Twice postponed, he thanked graciously his audience for keeping the faith and equally the team who has kept him on the road.
This theme had begun with support act Tim Newman, Principal of the Brighton Academy of Performing Arts, “adopted son” of Essex in musical “All The Fun of the Fair” and singer / songwriter.
Five numbers delivered on a backing track, “Contradiction” is the strongest, a Jagger style beat. “Let Me Sleep” has a Corrs-like sound with ethereal lyric and a hard kicking philosophical bridge. “Won’t Do Tears” worked with audience participation, “Silence” drifted from an opening track about a town he called his own. It takes ability to walk cold onto that vast stage, and all credit to Mr Newman for doing so.
Sensibly acknowledging his role, Newman played on the very strong community feeling among David Essex fans, happily joining their enthusiasm.
Already set for hero-worship, the crowd revved high as he appeared, Essex could easily pull back and slide through ninety minutes of highlights. That he runs straight through with a drummer, bass, guitar and keyboard band is quite an achievement, the Palladium’s stage embracing his artistry.
Opening with “City Lights” into “Hold Me Close” his voice is a little deeper and more sophisticated with time, the string solo giving a little time to breath and show off the skills of Terry Moffatt and Dave Needham.
“Lamplight” followed, before Essex’s bond with fans became noticeable in his teasing, almost scripted “Rocky Horror Show” style responses to lyrics in “If I Could” – ‘be my wife’ saw many nods and grins exchanged.
“Beautiful Day” is a proper ‘feel good’ number before a rock version of “Oh What a Circus” which would have Rice and Lloyd-Webber puzzled as to how one fan managed to turn it into a clap-along.
Rightly noting the current relevance, “Imperial Wizard” is a song written in the 1970s as a protest. The message about the futility of sending men to war rings even truer today.
“Rock On” always delights the crowds, his first US number 1 always remembered. “A Winter’s Tale,” another Tim Rice lyric had the audience spellbound. “Here We Are All Together” summing up the mood and a reminder that after all those rescheduled nights it happened.
For his four sons and daughter “Father and Son” (not the Cat Stevens classic) reminded all that family is everything to this star. “Stardust,” written for the film of the same name a note of early success. “Gonna Make You a Star” was an obvious following choice, before the main set closed on “You Really Got Me,” which the audience clearly did.
Encores, “It’s Gonna Be Alright,” “Silver Dream Machine” and “I’ll Be Missing You” were delivered with energy.
A strong end to a polished evening.
4 stars.