Texas / Girl Called Johnny

A freezing cold night in mid November and the last thing you wanna do is go to a gig.

When I met my partner 6 years ago she tried to persuade me that Texas were the best live band she'd ever seen, I honestly thought that this was a bit tongue in cheek considering the amount of bands and artists I've seen since doing the 'Photography and Reviewing' thang. 

We got to Symphony Hall just as Girl Called Johnny, were doing their first number. Unfortunately I'm not really a fan, although they seem a pretty tight band, the tunes are pretty cool, it just didn't match with what Texas were gonna provide. Was I missing the point?, Maybe!? A 30 minute set we were treated to, the song that made my ears prick up was the cover 'Tainted Love' by Soft Cell and 'Sunshine'. The lanky lead singer looked like an orange-tang on speed when she danced, entertainment value alone was amazing. 

The audience tonight were mainly my age, forty something's, which is understandable considering Texas have been on the scene since 1989, Yes, I did say 1989. 

This is Texas's first tour in years, touring new offering 'The Conversation'. To say we were excited when we heard new material was coming out and an album, well, my partner was gonna explode. 

We were lucky enough to catch Texas live a couple of times earlier in the year at T in the Park and at the Radio Two Festival in a Day, they have lost none of their spirit and camaraderie on stage. I was a fan before I even met my partner, but sadly never caught Texas live. We did however catch Ms Spiteri during her wilderness years where she released solo album 'Melody', live a few times at Liverpool Pops and at a local radio competition gig, I wasn't really impressed with either gig to be honest. 

25 years on after the release of stonker 'I Dont Wanna A Lover', which is one of the Texas anthems, they have had their ups and downs, even splitting up at some stage, if they had rode the crest of the Texas wave I do wonder what would have happened, they faded in to obscurity, BUT now they're back with an absolute vengeance. 

The stage set was basic, with just a video wall for company, which showed different excerpts from different videos and graphics throughout the show, even seeing Spiteri with Alan Rickman at one stage doing her thang on the dance floor, very sexy!! 

Texas came on at just after 9 to rapturous applause. Dressed in a three piece suit and cowboy boots and looking rather hot and steamy. 

Stonker 'Detroit City' kicked off the set and provided the platform for the rest of the evening, we were treated to songs from the Texas back catalogue that spanned 25 years, so many songs to pick and choose from. The set was littered with hit after hit, after hit, you don't realise how long this band have been going in all honesty and how bloody good they were, AND still are. 

Tonight showed that many of the Texas hits haven't lost any of their KAPOW and they still grab you by the lug holes and make you sit up and listen. 

A 90 minute set and two encores (18 Songs), the crowd were like little puppies lapping up all the attention. Spiteri certainly knows how to play the crowd, in particular her mainly female audience, shaking her bootie at every opportune moment and lapping up all the wolf whistles and attention, it's no wonder this women is such a gay icon. So many women on heat at the mere sight of Spiteri and from what I saw last night I didn't blame them either. 

I have seen many artists over my ten years span doing the journo thang and Texas are up there with the best of them. I am actually dumbfounded at how amazingly good live they are. I did sneer at the ticket prices (£48.50) and thought they were just jumping on the gravy train, but after tonight I would've actually paid more for my ticket. 

A few tracks from the new album including mesmerising 'Dry Your Eyes' and the amazing 'The Conversation', Obviously the crackers from the back catalogue were the gems of the set.   'Inner Smile', 'Black Eyed Boy', 'I Don't Wanna a Lover', 'Halo', 'Once in a Lifetime', 'In Demand', the lists endless. It was an amazing night, Spiteri showed she can still cut it as an immense vocalist and Texas still have a place in the music business if tonight's sell out crowd have anything to do with it.