03/07/15: As well as the RVT’s already jam-packed schedule of events, the powers that be are casually sprinkling in some exclusive one-night-only live music gigs featuring familiar musical artists, and so far, these nights are proving to be very popular.
There was a fair deal of buzz surrounding T’Pau’s acoustic show from the very first day it was announced, and it certainly lived up to all expectations. The Tavern was choc-a-bloc with excited fans and there was a palpable air of giddy excitement pre-show.
Support act Michael Armstrong got the night off to a cracking start, providing a vocally perfect set which culminated in an awesome rendition of Paul McCartney’s ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’. After a short interlude, the light’s went up and the main course emerged, T’Pau headed by the eternally youthful Carol Decker.
The audience raised the roof with riotous applause and cheering, even before a single note had been sung. Carol opened with ‘Secret Garden’ – a song she originally wrote for her gay and transgender fans – dedicating it to Caitlyn Jenner.
Carol’s distinctive vocals filled the room like a beautiful warm blanket of joy, accompanied beautifully by the rest of the band. In between songs her wicked and cheeky sense of humour came out, at one point joking ‘I’m sweating like the underpants bomber up here’.
As the show continued many of the fans’ favourites such as ‘I Will be With You’ and ‘Heart and Soul’ were performed on the legendary Vauxhall stage. They also threw in one cover, ‘Hotel California’ – a truly spine tingling and insanely crowd-pleasing rendition.
It wasn’t just the classics on the set list though, two tracks from the new album Pleasure and Pain were also performed. The night ended with the song that took T’Pau to the top of the charts around the world in the late 80’s, ‘China in Your Hand’. It was perfect.
The audience turned into a meticulously rehearsed choir. And the acoustic performance gave it an ethereal feel. The crowning glory was Carol’s flawless vocals which had an angel like quality to them. The standing ovation from ALL was sign enough that the audience and fans were more than happy with T’Pau at the RVT.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, SE11 5HY
Words by Jason Reid
Photos by Joel Ryder
