Gabrielle

Liverpool Philamonic Hall, Liverpool

I’ve been a fan of Gabrielle’s ever since she released her first single Dreams back in 1993 and I grew to love her even more when she sang the theme tune from the first Bridget Jones movie so getting the chance to see her live in an intimate venue like the Liverpool Philamonic was fabulous.

Although it said on the ticket that the show would start at 7.30pm she didn’t actually come on until just after 8.30pm, not that the audience minded though, they lapped it up like a baby kitten does when it has its very first sip of cold milk.

Gabrielle burst on stage and immediately introduced us to a new song that nobody could sing along to because they hadn’t heard it before; surely she could have picked something upbeat and well-known to get the crowd going? Not that they minded though; the cheers from the scouse audience were loud enough and even the older people at the back managed to get up to sway along. The singer was in Liverpool to promote her latest album, Always, another collection of easygoing, up market soul songs in a distinctively English and in my view immediately relaxing style.

Accompanied by a forceful five-man band and two backing singers, she quickly explained that she had been suffering from flu and that her voice had been getting worse all week. So that explains the teapot and cup by the side of the microphone – I just thought she fancied a brew in between songs! You couldn’t help but sympathise though; I mean how many of us could get up on stage and entertain a paying audience in a husky, soulful voice when we were clearly suffering with the dreaded flu?

There was however an uneasy sense throughout that she couldn’t wait to leave the stage and when she did pop backstage half way through to change her jacket I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who thought that she wouldn’t be coming back. But she did and to her credit managed to finally wake the crowd up as she belted out old favourites like Rise, Give me a little more time, When a Woman and finally the encore which included Dreams.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed that she didn’t demonstrate more rhythm in her stage performance but won’t deny the shiver that I got down my back as she hit every single note on Out of Reach. Sad I know, but I’m not afraid to admit that that’s the only thing I wanted to hear her sing live and she certainly didn’t disappoint – perfection.