Andrew Strong @ The Gov, Adelaide 6/3/2018
Irish singer Andrew Strong is quite the performer as he left a lasting impression on Adelaide fans playing the first of two shows. Strong found fame in the hit movie The Commitments which coincidentally is celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary. This is a show not to miss with a set list so relatable to just about anyone who has a keen interest in music. Nothing is better than seeing an awesome singer backed by a big seven-piece band who were super tight and had all the moves and grooves. The crowd were up for a great night and were up and out of their chairs once opener Midnight Hour took flight. Hard To Handle continued that good time Adelaide party vibe before leading in to Yolanda.
Strong described the storm in Ireland as the beast from the east which almost prevented them from making the start of the tour. Grits & Groceries and Dark End Of The Street were superb with Strong saying before the later that we hope we’re not too loud for you and that they would slow things down. Strong’s sister Niamh Strong took the lead on I Can’t Stand The Rain. What a voice! Interesting Strong pointed out that everything thinks that Niamh is his wife but she’s actually his sister. The hits kept coming with Take Me To The River and Treat Her Right.
Niamh took the lead again on Thank You with Strong remarking that the band was feeling good and that there’s plenty of love in the room before bringing the soul vibe of a Land Of 1000 Dances which was a great moment in the set. The crowd went mental for Mustang Sally before wrapping up the main set on I Never Loved A Man and Gimme Some Lovin’. Strong suggested that he had to sweat to feel like he had earnt his money and that he hadn’t removed his jacket tie once. The crowd were quite vocal in their appreciation and getting the band back for an encore. The encore was slightly different to what was listed on the set list but still was great with the James Brown classic I Feel Good bringing it home with Try A Little Tenderness. If you missed out I’d be trying everything possible to score a ticket to the second show. Andrew Strong is a class performer who really does know how to put on a show and excite the crowd leaving no one disappointed.
Live Review by Rob Lyon