TOM JONES - SOUTHAMPTON SUMMER SESSIONS // GUILDHALL, SOUTHAMPTON
In what looks like the start of the 50 days of rain that we all dread will be this year’s British summer, people in Southampton defied the weather and descended to Guildhall Square for the first of the
Southampton Summer Sessions.
★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
TOM JONES PERFORMING AT SOUTHAMPTON’S SUMMER SESSIONS
PHOTOCREDIT: CHARIS LYDIA BAGIOKI
While one would expect that people would only show up for the headliner, I was pleasantly surprised to see the square was full to the brim with people when Storry, the first artist for tonight went on stage. There is not a lot of information out there about this mysterious woman – she is an artist with an incredible voice and a commanding stage presence. Her music – written and produced by her – is indie-pop with a twist, some very intense operatic vocals and unique instruments. Dressed in an incredible monochromatic red three piece, Storry excited the crowd with her slow and intimate songs. Her music and singing were calm and comforting, encompassing elements of R&B, soul, modern pop and indie, as well as a unique aesthetic and stage presence. Entertaining the crowd not only with her own songs, but also with an amazing Tina Turner cover/medley – having everyone around me sing along – she was really a truly well-selected opener to an incredible night ahead.
Second act on the stage were the Australian trio of sisters, Germein. The band’s name also happens to be the last name of the three ladies that conquered the stage, being no strangers to performing in front of large and eager crowds. Germain have been supporting Tom Jones not only in his Australian leg of the tour, but also in the UK arenas, so entertaining his diverse crowd was an easy task for them. With heartfelt yet uplifting songs, the crowd was dancing and clapping along as Georgia (guitar and piano), Ella (bass) and Clara (drums) harmonised their voices along their indie-pop melodies. Playing a mix of upbeat songs and slower ballads, the sisters explained the meanings behind some of their songs. Notably, their ballad ‘Suitcase’ talks about missing their lives back home in Australia, having been on the road for too long. As the dark and ominous sky cleared up, Germein finished their set under the sunshine, with everyone’s moods lifting up as the evening sunrays cheered up the crowd to jump and dance along.
Last but not least, Sir Tom Jones entered the stage as the crowd anticipated his arrival. The Welsh singer has a career that spans for 50 years, selling over 100 million records, with 36 top hits in the UK and 19 in the US. He is a receiver of Grammy Awards since the 1960s and has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services in music. With so many achievements under his belt, it was only natural that the performance he would deliver would be an unforgettable experience. One thing to note was the diversity of the crowd that showed up early to his gig, people of all ages piling up to enjoy the singer’s performance as the sun gave way to twilight.
Performing some of his top hits tirelessly, such as ‘What’s New Pussycat’, ‘Green, Green Grass of Home’, ‘Delilah’, ‘She’s a Lady’ and ‘Sex Bomb’, Sir Tom Jones’s voice was crystal clear and echoed through the whole city. The crowd was eagerly singing along, as he entertained the attendees by sharing intricate stories as he was introducing each song. His stage presence was breath-taking, not only because of his energy but also his ability to make great banter. As the chilliness of the evening fell, Sir Tom Jones welcomed his fans to ‘Southampton… in June… it doesn’t feel like it’, eliciting laughter. Later on, he reminded people of that last week it was his ‘24th… sorry, 84th birthday’ and how significant number 4 was for him, having started his career in 1964. Without bragging of course, he introduced songs that have made him ‘The oldest person in the UK to have a Number 1 Album’ and shared stories from the 1960s and 1970s.
Of course, he paid homage to some of the singers that he likes and to the ones that have influenced his sound and career, such as Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley, as well as Prince and Chuck Berry – whom Elvis called the ‘King of Rock and Roll’. The performing of covers such as ‘Kiss’ by Prince felt authentic and brought another kind of nostalgia into his performance. His voice, a soulful rasp with a clear vibrato makes it look like his singing is effortless. Yet, when you try to sing along, it is not as easy as he makes it.
As Sir Tom Jones rejoined the stage for his encore, the crowd now started to go mad. Welsh flags were waving in the wind, people took their shirts off and I swear I saw some red knickers flying around. The gig was a great reminder of what Sir Jones’ music is about – effortless sexiness, groovy-ness, soul R&B and blue-sy rock and roll, an amalgam of 60s and 70s pop that has remained timeless and current through the ages. It is difficult to fit an entire career and such a long life story into a music set, yet Sir Tom Jones has managed to do it, leaving everyone with a nice memory and a thirst for more.