Take one West End star and add one rock legend and you get a fantastic pairing. We are of courses talking about Kerry Ellis and Brian May, and to have both on stage on the one night is a chance not to be missed.
In support was new band Vintage Trouble. As a support act, they weren’t bad though it is hard to describe who they sound like. One description that was heard was ‘James Brown on speed’. Powering through a set of several songs, the audience seemed to take to them. After a short interval to allow the setting of the stage, the main act began.
Or at least, so people thought. After a little light show and introductional interlude, the band appeared from either side, before the familiar opening chords of Dangerland on electric guitar from Brian May before being joined by Kerry Ellis. It didn’t take long for Kerry to make her mark on the audience of the concert hall. To follow up the opening number was I’m Not That Girl (taken from the musical Wicked). From here, she thanked the audience for a warm welcome and thanked Dr. Brian May, causing a cheer to go up.
I Can’t Be Your Friend (This Can’t Be Over) followed by the well known Shirley Bassey song Diamonds Are Forever which showcased her range beautifully. Now it was Brian’s turn to address the audience and ask for permission for both him and Kerry to perform a few Queen tracks along the way…as if anyone was going to object! To start off they performed Somebody To Love and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. At the end of this, Kerry disappeared off stage leaving Brian to play a solo piece. He ten swapped electric for acoustic and a stool, to perform a song ‘written by a good friend called Freddie’. He then went onto mention how Freddie may be gone but he would live on through his music, both getting a rousing applause from the audience. Brian then played Love Of My Life ably assisted by the entire audience.
Kerry then returned to perform an acoustic track with Brian called I Loved A Butterfly. From here, Kerry performed the Queen track Save Me, which she admitted that there had been extra lyrics written just for her. Disappearing from stage, Brian now reminisces about how he first met Kerry, the audition for We Will Rock You and how she set the bar for the character of Meat and she had made No One Buy You (Only The Good Die Young) her own. This would be the next song for her to perform followed by You Have To Be There. A quick stage strip and it was onto The Feeling’s I Love It When You Call.
Another quick disappearance and outfit change and she’s back to perform the rocky Defying Gravity. The next two songs would get the audience up on their feet and doing what Glasgow does best; singing along. These songs would be We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions. Kerry, Brian and the band left the stage and the chanting begins. The band returns with Brian personally thanking the audience for welcoming them and reminding him why he loved Glasgow. Kerry comes back on stage to perform Anthem (from Chess), finishing on a high with the Queen classic Tie Your Mother Down.
For many, this may have been the first time that they had seen and heard Kerry live. To see and hear both Kerry and Brian on the same stage was a wonderful experience. Kerry was vocally stunning and lived up to everything and more than you hear on the CD. And Brian showed that he’s still got it…but why does he have to make playing the guitar like a walk in the park? A very enjoyable night and highly recommended night out.
Photos © Vhari Lannigan
Kerry Ellis
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ the Official Store
Download @ iTunes
Brian May
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes
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