The Pavilion Theatre isn’t a venue that appears often on Scottish Music Network but what an amazing old building!
Its a proper old theatre built back when buildings were constructed to last… yes, it’s been refurbished but still…
Something else which was built to last was the name of a Philadelphia band. The Stylistics have been around in some for or another since 1968 and are synonymous with feel good music.
Tonight the two golden oldies clash for centre stage in Glasgow.
Kicking off the night was Tom Cridland with his Elton John tribute act.
Bedecked in Glitter and Elton styled garb he took to the stage and positioned himself behind the electric piano to introduce himself.
Without the flamboyant Elton style pomp and ceremony he took us through some of Elton and Bernie’s greatest songs; starting off with ‘I’m Still Standing” he treated us to a great set with the occasional half hearted sing a long from the crowd.
A great start to the night…
It was Stylistics time as the band took to the stage under the deep purple lights and played the intro tune.
An excited crowd of mostly older folk waited impatiently for the arrival of the main act.
When they arrived on stage they were the quintessential 60’s and 70’s Soul / R&B group. Crisp black suits and shiny shoes; stylish and debonaire; suave and sophisticated; proper old school.
They were a treat for the eyes but how would they sound?
The quick answer is simply this; they were an aural delight.
Mr Jason Sharp was on lead for the majority of the songs and his range was almost Mariah Carey like. His ventures in to the higher reaches of the musical scale were incredible. He held one particular high note for a good number of bars; so long, in fact, that he received a huge audience ovation for that note alone!
Almost from the off there were people dancing in the aisles and at the front of the stage; perhaps reminiscing of times gone past; perhaps just being in the moment. Whatever the reason, they were having a great time.
The three current members of The Stylistics were backed by a fantastic band who never missed a beat and a musical director ensuring they were perfectly in time to coordinate with the dance moves of the men out front. The dance moves weren’t that of Jagger but they were silky smooth…
Cool comes in many forms but very few things are as cool as an older black man singing old school soul or R&B… that is ice cool. On a cool-o-meter from one to ten the Stylistics are off the scale!
A fantastic night of entertainment in a Vaudevillian styled venue; the coolest guys in Glasgow that night were on stage taking the crowd on a musical journey back in time. The enjoyment and appreciation of the crowd was palpable; just for that short window in time the worries and stress of real life disappeared for a small number of people in Glasgow.
The band, the venue, the staff and the audience were symbiotic for that one evening and, together as one, they produced a fantastic experience… Scottish Music Network is giving them a huge round of (cyber) applause!
Review & Photographs by John Brown Photography
