Duffy @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 5th December 2008
2 Pint Jugs!
Nope, I’m not making some lewd comment about Duffy’s physique (although I have to admit she is a fine looking woman), but moreover am commenting on the finest drinking vessel I’ve seen at a gig in my many years of being a gig junkie — namely the 2 pint jug. Pure genius! Trips to the bar are obviously halved, they are too cumbersome to lug through the crowd — hence people at the front don’t get soaked by beer propelled missiles – and generally they enhance the atmosphere as everyone seems to get inebriated that little bit quicker. Simply Marvellous.
Anyway, back to Duffy. The diminutive Welsh songbird made her way to the stage dressed in a red sequinned dress sporting a ponytail much to the delight of the duffers and duffettes in a packed Civic Hall.
Supported by a wide ranging number of musicians — from bongo players to cellists — and identical twins as backing singers she wasted no time in getting the crowd going with the title track of her debut album ‘Rockferry’. Like some Oz-Aerobics workout it was arms up and then out to the left in what has become Duffy’s signature dance. Justin Timberlake-esqe choreography it was not, but needless to say it was eagerly taken up by the congregation and was a welcome bit of a cardiovascular exercise to work off some of those oversized beers.
The singer — whose vocal range contrasts between opposite ends of the spectrum – from sweet little songbird through to the power of a roaring lion — then sauntered her way through her album playing all of the fans’ favourites from ‘Warwick Avenue’, ‘Rain on your Parade’ and ‘Stepping Stone’. For me the highlight was her last track before the encore — ‘Mercy’. From the moment the booming base line kicks in the hairs simply stand up on the back of your neck. Then comes the vocal “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” and, as the audience belts it out and Duffy reciprocates, it really becomes one of those great gig moments where you and the singer seem to connect in one glorious musical moment.
Overall it was a great gig. Admittedly I’m not Duffy’s biggest fan but I have to say she’s got a great voice and really does put on a great performance for her hoards of devotees.
Review by Zak Edwards
Photography by Bianca Barrett