Ready to rock!
The five tenors and their seven-piece band got a near capacity audience rocking the night away with a line-up of classic numbers.
The audience sang and danced, waved their arms, then cheered and stamped the group after every item on their impressive specially arranged playlist. They performed everything from Freddy Mercury’s technically demanding Bohemian Rhapsody and We are the Champions to The Beatles Come Together and Eagles Desperado. They gave a spotlight to a very special guest, 13-year-old Eddie from Balmacewen who, clearly loving the limelight, played the lead riff in Guns and Roses’ Live and Let Die with a conviction beyond his years.
Highlights include Bowie’s Heroes, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms dedicated to the defenders of Ukrainians, Journey’s Any Way You Want It, Supertramp’s Breakfast in America and Van Halen’s Jump — all from the days of long hair and enough machismo to pump the stage.
The amped volume was not always without its reverb.
Being loud enough to blast the demons to kingdom come is refreshing and validating.
Sound of that magnitude wraps around the audience and works to create one cohesive body.
However, pain in the eardrums is an inhibitor to enjoyment unless, of course, one is seriously twisted. Some fine tuning is required.
The energy created on stage was mesmerising.
One hopes their voices last out the season, because, as Queen said "the show must go on" and "don’t stop me now".
Resurrecting the Covid-cancelled show "Rock My World" — a tribute to Queen and Freddy Mercury — into this casino format works well. A real tonic from these local rockers with a show of strength and a wonderful selection of music.
Dunedin audiences are only too ready to rock ’n’ roll.
Rock Tenors
Mayfair Theatre
Thursday, July 28
REVIEW BY MARIAN POOLE
