REBECCA FERGUSON | LIVE REVIEW
St David’s Hall, Cardiff, Mon 14 Nov
Go on, admit it. You arrive just before the headline act so you don’t have to sit through the openers. We’ve all done it. I was all set to be bored by the whippersnapper Max Restaino. How wrong I was! His music was a tad teenybopper for me, but he certainly was a go-getter in an Olly Murs vein. He was energetic like 20-year-olds are, jumping and dancing around in that dorky but cute way and really got the audience warmed up. They liked the new single No and also Give Me All Your Loving a lot.
For a minute or two, Restaino blew a mean sax and bopped over to his keyboard to show he knew his way around his instruments, but it was for too short a time. It seems as if he may have a talent for jazz and blues, in addition to pop and rock, but he’ll probably sell millions doing just what he’s doing.
Then the big moment arrived, and Rebecca Ferguson walked out to wild applause and launched into the inspirational Oceans, off her new album Superwoman. Right away, though, you could tell something was up as she kept on fiddling with her earpiece. Leaving the stage momentarily, she quickly returned saying she couldn’t hear herself but that [the tiny monitor] was fixed. She is reminiscent of a young Aretha Franklin, her voice is that powerful – hard to fathom that she was only runner-up in The X Factor.
Ferguson continued on, including tunes from two previous CDs, debut Heaven and Freedom. She shone on the bouncy Backtrack, the music belying the subject matter of cheating. Showing her fragile side, she sang the lovely ballad Teach Me How To Be Loved and then went old-school soul with Superwoman and Run Free.
While her back-up duo sang a very nice version of Angie Stone’s Wish I Didn’t Miss You, Ferguson changed from her black miniskirt with glittering gold designs to a sumptuous, sparkly gown. Looking like a princess, she said women should be empowered but, in addition, “every woman should be treated like a princess.” She informed the crowd that material things weren’t as important as family and love before starting the heartfelt Nothing’s Real But Love – her warmth comes through when she reverts to speech.
The backing band started to rock out in the second half, but for the next half dozen songs were just too loud: it wasn’t that Ferguson’s voice was weak, but that the music was simply overpowering. At times, the vocalist again adjusted her earpiece, as if she was still having problems, and appeared distracted at times. She’s still only 30, and perhaps still growing into her big voice and being onstage.
When the band quietened down, Ferguson brightened up and unveiled a terrific new song, Stars. The encore found her looking substantially more relaxed, doing Diamond To Stone, and then three covers – I’m Every Woman, Show Me Love and Bones. These got everyone on their feet and giving her a standing ovation. I only wish the exuberance had come sooner.
words RHONDA LEE REALI photos GARETH GRIFFITHS