Reviews
Artist: Elkie Brooks
Towns: Hampton
Date: 24th July 2010
Website: http://www.elkiebrooks.net/index_backup.html
I'm not sure what the difference between a lido and a heated outdoor pool is, but the one at Hampton professes to be a pool. It is open all year round for hardy souls to swim in. Many such lidos and pools have closed in recent years, but Hampton is still going strong. It is run as a charity, and to help to keep it running, over the last few years they have hosted around six music concerts each summer.
There are ample grounds round the pool for them to erect a stage, with the audience allowed to bring picnics and sit on the grass between the pool and stage. There are only a couple of stipulations to the picnic. They request that you bring no glass, as any breakages could cut the feet of their swimming clientele, and they request that you don't bring your own alcohol, as they have a well stocked bar the profits of which help to maintain the facility.
This was not the first time that Elkie Brooks has played there, having performed back in 2007. Hopefully she'll be back again and again.
Her current tour marks a significant milestone. One in fact that very few other musicians have reached, or are ever likely to reach. It was in 1960 that a 15 year old Elaine Bookbinder as Elkie Brooks started her career as a musician, so she is celebrating an amazing 50 years in the industry. With her youthful looks, powerful voice, and phenomenal energy it is hard to believe she can even be in her forties, so it is quite unbelievable that she has notched up such an achievement.
Having never seen her play live before, was quite surprised that I recognised her guitarist. Had trouble recognising him at first as on both occasions that I have previously seen Melvin Duffy play he wasn't even playing a guitar. The instrument he is most known for is a steel guitar.
Elkie sings from a wide variety of genres, from jazz, blues, and rock. Her voice seems to suit all genres equally. It has that smokey gravelly tone of a late night jazz club, and the power of a hard rocker. She played many of her classic tracks such as Lilac Wine, Sunshine After The Rain, Fool if You Think it's Over, and Pearl's A Singer, but also played covers from Family, Dylan, Clapton, Grateful Dead, the Doors and Bob Seger.
The first half was played during the last of the daylight. There was subtle stage lighting, and the songs seemed softer and gentler. The second, and slightly shorter set, was a much more rockier affair. The daylight had gone, and was replaced with dry ice and a full blown light show, and Elkie and her band pulled the stops out. After 50 years in the industry, she has definitely got the hang of how to keep the audience attentive.
Made an attempt at a set list. I apologise if I haven't got it quite right. The track I'm least certain about is the opening song of the second half. Fairly sure that it was Powerless, the title track to her new album.
Set List
He Could Have Been An Army
Love Potion No. 9
Do Right Woman, Do Right Man
Warm And Tender Love
Fool If You Think It's Over
Sunshine After The Rain
Don't Cry Out Loud
No More The Fool
Lilac Wine
He Moves Me
Powerless
Gotta Serve Somebody
Try Harder
Pearl's A Singer
Burlesque
Roadhouse Blues
I'm Tore Down
Baby What Do You Want Me To Do?
We've Got Tonight
Pete Bradley