Jake Shears at Village Underground
Last night was all strobe lights, sequin jumpsuits and soaring vocals as Jake Shears celebrated the release of his new album Last Man Dancing in the cool Village Underground. A pure performer from start to finish, Shears bleeds disco, hyping up the crowd in his glittery headband and easily getting everyone to boogie along with him.
Too Much Music starts us off and the crowd is already head-banging. Cheers welcome the sensational Amber Martin on the backing vocals, often effortlessly stealing the show. Really Big Deal is true disco, with groovy backing synths and a bewitching guitar, and it seems the venue itself is shaking its hips and whipping its hair. The first Scissor Sisters’ song of the night is Any Which Way, reminding us of Shears’ glorious falsetto, and kicking it up a notch. He knows what he’s doing onstage, his energy palpable in every corner of the room. Alongside Amber, he’s joined by his band Craig Pfunder, Sam Odiwe and Jonny Brister, a group that clearly love each other dearly.
Despite the lack of Kylie Minogue, new track Voices is hypnotic under blue lights, compelling concertgoers to shut their eyes and get lost in the beat drop. It’s dizzying, it’s trippy and it’s club culture at its best. Shears then manages to up the ante once more, bringing out saxophone player Snow White Trash during the grittier Creep City, letting the jazz ooze from centre stage into the roaring crowd.
Shears can definitely hold his own, his solo music fresh and funky, with a disco-forever pride that glows onstage, but his work with the Scissor Sisters will remain iconic. He sings Laura and Take Your Mama with a snippet from George Michael’s Freedom, and the crowd goes wild for it. He wishes the audience a happy Pride and is met by rapturous applause.
He’s clearly at home on stage, looking overjoyed to be up there as he thanks everyone in the room. “It’s a dream come true,” he shouts. Then he plays I Don’t Feel Like Dancing, and not a soul in that place is still. Lights flash and everyone is sweaty and you can’t help but think that disco never dies, not here at least.
After a jaw-droppingly impressive interlude from burlesque performer Jake DuPree, we’re into the last run of songs. Invisible Light is a wall of sound, a staggering epic of a song with the kind of backing beat that you can feel in your stomach, and that must be experienced live. His closing song is a stroke of genius: Filthy/Gorgeous with a Let’s Have a Kiki chorus. This party could last all night, and it should. Happy Pride everyone!
Talitha Stowell
Photos: Ambra Vernuccio
For further information and future events visit Jake Shears’s website here.
Watch the video for the single Last Man Dancing here:
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