David Cassidy on the Web
Once in a Lifetime 2012 Full Review
November 12, 2012
The 70s Nostalgia Gig of 2012
www.nostalgiagigs.com
Last night the Wembley Arena was host to some of the biggest stars of the 1970s pop scene, Smokie, Hot Chocolate, Leo Sayer and David Cassidy rocked a full house of 70s pop fans in search of a night of nostalgia. The audience comprised 80 percent women of a 50+ vintage and as Leo Sayer later remarked "I've never seen so many women in one place before"
Smokie arrived to a rapturous reception, going straight in to, I'll Meet You At Midnight followed by, Lay Back In the Arms of Someone, For a Few Dollars More and If You Think You Know How To Love Me in quick succession.
Don't Play Your Rock 'N' Roll To Me, rocked the crown who were on their feet, clapping and singing and at this point I was wondered how Hot Chocolate was going to follow this.
Smokie launched in to a crowd favourite for their finale, Living Next Door To Alice. The crowd joined in with the Chubby Brown version and the band left the stage to a well deserved standing ovation, what a buzz.
After a short break, Hot Chocolate began with, Everyone's A Winner, giving it lots of beat and bass to keep the pace up. They followed with the hits, Gave You My Heart, No Doubt About It, Emma, So You Win Again, Started With A Kiss and finished off with the wonderfully upbeat, You Sexy Thing.
Hot Chocolate delivered on the harmonies with a 6 member band and 5 contributing on the vocals, it makes for a brilliant live sound. I needn't have worried about Hot Chocolate holding the audience after Smokie, these boys delivered and the crowed loved it.
More stage rearrangement and enter the human dynamo, Leo Sayer bounded on to the stage, bellowing a couple of Wembley roars he launched in to, More Than I Can Say, which sums up my view of Leo's stunning performance. This guy had the audience in the palm of his hand and worked them like the consummate pro that he is. Even his bit of banter with the spot light operator had everyone in awe of the little man's stage craft.
He sang the hits like, Orchard Road, The Show Must Go On, One Man Band, Moonlighting, and You Make Me Feel like Dancing. And boy this man's voice has stood the test of time.
He hopped down from the stage and in to the crowd while belting out, You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, the little man with the big voice worked the crowd like the consummate artist he is.
Before singing, When I Need You, he requested the lights lowered and for the audience to use the light from their mobile phones (the era of the cigarette lighter being long gone) The effect was stunning in a darkened Wembley it looked like that stars in the night sky paying homage to this diminutive star of the 70s. It's sad to think that he felt the need to move to Australia as we really want to see more of this massive musical talent in Britain.
Leo Sayer had the crowed up, dancing, swaying clapping and singing and with his set coming to a close he left us with a rocky version of "Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)". His voice still impeccable, hitting the falsetto notes, just amazing, as they say class is permanent.
One of the biggest stars of 70s pop was tonight's star turn. David Cassidy came out guitar in hand and wooed and rocked his adoring fans. This really was the section of the evening that the ladies of a 50+ vintage came to see.
Cassidy was no sooner on the stage and there was a surge of female fans to the front, many sporting Cassidy t-shirts and badges (if only their kids could see them now). He could have spent his set just waving and chatting to the ladies and they wouldn't have cared. He delivered a number of the hits, Daydreamer, Could It Be Forever, The Last kiss and I woke Up In Love This Moring. The fans were in a nostalgia wonderland eager for a closer glimpse of their teen idol, lots of screaming and waving going on, it was like the 70s never ended.
He chatted with the fans (a bit too much) but one occasion he alluded to his friendship with the late Davy Jones of Monkees fame and he dedicated Day Dream Believer to his former friend.
His penultimate tune, How I Can I Be Sure, saw his female admirers move even closer sensing the end of their time with their 70s dreamboat. He ended the evening with the mega hit, I Think I Love You, however, the voice was struggling to hit the notes but in truth his female admirers didn't appear to notice or if they did they didn't care.
There is no doubting David Cassidy was a mega icon of 70s pop but I left the arena in total admiration of Leo Sayer's stand out performance , the voice, the energy and the unparalleled ability to work an audience, majestic.
The Once in A Lifetime gig is worth the ticket price if only for the standout performances of Leo Sayer and Smokie
Long live the 70s - Keep the music live
NOTE from editor: David was suffering from a virus infection at this time
