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Saturday, February 26, 2022

ROCK GUITAR LEGENDS II: REVIEW


(Above: Andy Turrell, Barry Thomson, Mali Sewell & Dawn Selby. Pic by Val Bottomley)

This is a fabulous rock and roll party of a show featuring great music played with spirit and skill. (Review by Keith Millar)

Durban’s premier tribute band, The Reals, is appearing at the Rhumbelow Theatre this weekend with the sequel to their marvelous show Rock Guitar Legends.

Aptly named Rock Guitar Legends ll, the production follows the same theme of honouring the great guitarists and their groups from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s.

There are a few numbers repeated in both shows but this matters not at all. This is a fabulous rock and roll party of a show featuring great music played with spirit and skill.

There is little doubt that the two years of the Covid pandemic along with its lockdowns and restrictions has influenced all of us. This was no different for a group such as The Reals. As professional as they were and as well as they performed on the rare occasions they could over this period, the prevailing conditions was always a dark cloud which seemed to hang over the proceedings.

So it is with great happiness that I can say after their performance last night that the real Reals are back.

They produced the sort of performance of energy, synergy, elation, and talent that one had come to expect of The Reals of old. They displayed their ability to get into the soul and move an audience.

Front man is guitar wizard Barry Thompson. He also looks after most of the vocals and provides his own style of humorous and quirky links between the songs. However, it is as a guitarist that he really shines. Replicating the style of so many legendary performers from over the years with consummate skill.

He is wonderfully supported by the massively talented keyboardist and music director for the group, Dawn Selby. She also does her fair share of vocals.

On drums is the inimitable Mali Sewell. He never seems to slow down or tire and remains one of the best.

Bass guitar was handled by the inscrutable Andy Turrell. A quiet man but with a character all his own.

There are a few mega hits in the programme. Such as Mark Knopfler’s Sultans of Swing (the earlier version), Pink Floyd’s (David Gilmour) Another Brick in The Wall, and Comfortably Numb, Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Pride and Joy and Jimmy Page’s Whole Lotta Love.

All the others are easily recognisable numbers with wonderful guitar work played with astounding expertise and energy by The Reals.

Included is everything from the Shadows to Jimmi Hendrix and includes the likes of Eric Clapton, Queen, Splash (Guns and Roses), Santana, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, and Joe Walsh along the way.

Rock Guitar Legends ll is a show chock-full of wonderful music. Filled with memorable guitar licks and riffs and solos and not forgetting the inspiring contribution from the bands themselves.

The remaining performances this weekend are booked out so your next chance of seeing this great show is when it performs on March 13, 2022, at 14h00 at the Allan Wilson Shellhole at 5 Durban Road in Pietermaritzburg. Worth the drive up if you’re from Durban!

Tickets R180. Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or Computicket.

For more information visit https://events.durbantheatre.com/ - Keith Millar