BRITISH INVASION: REVIEW

 

Andy Turrell, Shaun Dragt, (Mali Sewel: hidden), Barry Thompson & Dawn Selby. (Pic by Bev Millar)

It is a great pleasure to hear The Reals, and some good rock music back at the Rhumbelow Theatre after a break of some time. They never disappoint and as usual they were on top of their game. (Review by Keith Millar)

Durban’s popular tribute band The Reals are back at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo.

They are performing what, in my opinion, is one of their more interesting tribute shows, British Invasion. First heard in 2018, this show is slightly different from the norm in that it celebrates a period in the history of popular music rather than an individual artist or band.

British Invasion pays tribute to the British music groups which emerged in the 1960’s and beyond and had such a profound effect, not only on the world of music, but on art, culture and fashion.

In the 1950’s, America led the way as far as popular music was concerned with their Rock and Roll sounds exemplified by the likes of Bill Haley and the Comets and The Isley Brothers with the song which starts the show Twist and Shout.

Then came The Beatles leading the pack in the British Invasion which took the world by storm.

The show is very well researched and put together with excellent audiovisual material that along with dialogue from the front man from The Reals, Barry Thompson, tells the story of the Invasion.

But, of course, the main storyteller is the brilliant music from the era - performed with consummate skill, musicality, energy, and aplomb by the fabulous band, The Reals.

In the first half they started off with I Saw Her Standing There and Helter Skelter by the Beatles, Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by the Hollies, All Day and All of the Night by the Kinks and We Gotta Get out Of This Place by the Animals.

This was followed by the blues-inspired Rolling Stones with Start Me Up and Brown Sugar, the progressive rock maestros Pink Floyd with Comfortably Numb, an excellent rendition of The Who’s Baba O’Reilly and Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll.

The good music keeps coming in the second half with Wonderwall and Supersonic by Oasis, Song 2 by Blur, London Calling by Punk Rock group The Clash, Paranoid by Heavy Metal exponents Black Sabbath, Fat Bottomed Girls by the legendry Queen, Running with The Pack by Bad Company, and Genesis with I Can’t Dance.

It is a great pleasure to hear The Reals, and some good rock music back at the Rhumbelow Theatre after a break of some time. They never disappoint and as usual they were on top of their game.

Their lineup is Barry Thompson (guitar and vocals), Dawn Selby (keyboards and vocals), Mali Sewel (drums and vocals), Andy Turrell (bass) and guest guitarist and vocalist and co-creator of this show Shaun Dragt.

A special mention must go out to sound man Andre Norden. The sound balance on this show is really good. One of the best I have heard.

British Invasion can be seen at the Rhumbelow Theatre in Cunningham Road, Umbilo today (December Saturday 3) at 19h30 and tomorrow (December Sunday 4 at 14h00)

Tickets R180. Bring food picnic baskets or buy at the venue. Bar available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises). There is limited secure parking.

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

For more information contact 082 499 8636 or visit http://events.durbantheatre.com/

Rhumbelow Theatre is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo, Durban. – Keith Millar