SalfordOnline.com Rating: 5 out of 5
Now 47, and looking and sounding as good as ever, Sharleen Spiteri appeared before a rocking sold-out audience in Salford.
Texas have sold 35 million records to date and it is easy to see why.
Founded in 1986 in Glasgow by part-time hairdresser Sharleen and ex-Altered Images bassist Johhny McElhone, they had their first top ten hit just three years later with ‘I Don’t Want a Lover’.
From their six-times platinum selling 1997 album White On Blonde (which I played until it was worn out), right up to the latest album Texas 25, a compilation of their greatest hits with the added bonus of a few new tracks, Texas in my opinion are one of the best rock bands the UK has ever been lucky enough to call its own.
Within minutes of entering the stage Ms Spiteri had everybody on their feet and most of us didn’t sit down again for the two and a half hours Texas entertained us.
Dressed in black pants and stripy top she rocked the place from start to finish.
All the hits were belted out: In Our Lifetime, Summer Son, Like Lovers, When We Are Together, Halo, and my all time favourite the brilliant In Demand.
At times charming and others bolshy, Spiteri interacts throughout with her audience and she truly owns the stage.
Full of boundless energy and genuine enthusiasm it becomes infectious, you can be sure if you weren’t a fan before the show you certainly are when you leave.
Her vocals are flawless and filled with emotion; when she sang Al Green’s Tired Of Being Alone her soulful tones left me with goosebumps – singing seems to come effortlessly to this powerhouse performer who incidentally also plays a mean guitar.
All the band are top notch, there is no weak link and they too seem to be having as much fun as us the audience engaging in conversation and being the butt of jokes, especially poor Michael. It gives what could be a rather staid performance a very intimate feel with plenty of interesting and humourous stories.
After performing the track Sleep, the one and only Peter Kay appears on stage and sweeps Spiteri off her feet, twirling her round to the delight of the crowd before hosting a question and answer session.
After the singalong hit Say What You Want there was a brief encore with Inner Smile and Elvis’ Suspicious Minds, and another Peter Kay appearance, then it was all over far too soon.
I was surprised just how much of an age range were present, from teenagers to OAPs, all there to appreciate this superb talent.
For me, it has reminded me to listen again to their back catalogue, if I can just dig out those CDs…
