Name of Show: Anthems: The Concert
Date: 1st May 2011
Starring: Kerry Ellis, Brian May, Adam Pascal, Escala, Dan Gillespie, The West End Chorus
Words and Music: Various!! Queen, Steven Schwartz, Don Black
Opened: One day only at RAH but first day of national tour
Theatre: The Royal Albert Hall, London
Seats: Originally 3rd Tier but we were upgraded for free to Stalls L Row 4 Seats 84 & 85
Seat Review: Amazing view and the RAH has these awesome swivelly chairs so you can face any part of the hall!
Price: £35 for 3rd tier seats. The people in the stalls near our upgraded seats paid about £60
Visit number: First and only!
Rating out of 10: 100
Recommend: Absolutely – you MUST see this tour!
Describe it in 5 words: A truly spectaular anthemic extravaganza.
MiniHobo’s Review:
WOW! It is so hard to know where to start with this review. Do I start with the magnificant building in which I cheered, clapped and standing ovated? Or perhaps I should begin with the ecstatic atmosphere filled with musical theatre fans, rock fans and Brian May pilgrims? Or would it be disrespectful not to mention first the unquestionably important work of Leukemia and Lymphona Research? Do I go with my head and review in detail the set, lighting, sound, direction and the many costume changes? Or do I go with my heart and start with the reason most of use were there – KERRY ELLIS!!
Nearly 2 years to the day since she left WICKED (May 9th will always be known as Kerry Ellis Day!), Kerry signed, sealed and delivered, confirming that she is indeed the QUEEN of musical theatre. With 4 impressive costume changes, rifftastic anthems (both vocally and guitarally!) and flawless, stunning vocals, she went from stage songstress and friend of Brian May to international megastar. She growled the crowd into no less than 3 standing ovations and her vocals could’ve become a live recording with NO editing necessary – at one point I was longing for her to miss a note just to show she’s not perfect but, I am jealous to confirm that indeed, she is!!
Kerry has an incredible way of effortlessly making her concerts a personal performance; I felt she was there for me and only me. And while proving herself a superstar, never once did she show diva tendencies – she gave recognition where due to every single person on the stage; a very humbling trait in such a well-loved performer.
You may notice I haven’t mentioned too much detail about the performances. This is because you, as the reader, will fall into one of the following 3 catagories:
- You were at Anthems: The Concert. In which case you are looking at this with your own opinions already in tact….please stick them in the comments so I can have a nosey at them…I’d love to know what you thought!!
- You are going to Anthems: The Concert when it tours. In which case I don’t want to give away anything except that you will have the time of your life and the Ellis and the May will not disappoint.
- You didn’t go and you aren’t booked in. In which case…whyever not? If you love Kerry, or Brian, or rock, or musicals, or music full stop…you need to book tickets. It’s a showstopping production that puts X Factor alumni and many of the chart topping artists to shame!
We were very lucky last night to also witness the musical talent of Adam Pascal, Escala and Dan Gillespie. Dan (from The Feeling) joined Kerry and Brian on stage to sing ‘I love it when you call’. He added an extra dimension that we hadn’t heard on the CD and they were having a ball up there on stage!! Adam Pascal sang a selection of songs from RENT, HAIR and Spring Awakening. My personal favourite was Seasons Of Love! Escala performed a couple of Anthems however I don’t think the concert would have been any more or less enjoyable without them there.
If you were at Anthems…what did you think? If you are going…how excited are you? If neither…why not?? Leave me a loverrrrly comment!!
Thanks
Jo xXx
![[LadyA]](http://www.minihobo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/lady-antebellum.jpg "An Apology (A Lady Antebellum Addition)")
Lastly, Lady Antebellum – Need You Now. This band is a very recent discovery of mine, recommended by my bungalowmate. It is SUCH a good road-trip album with numerous sing-along numbers. My favourite songs on the album are Need You Now (their title track released for the UK chart and currently being played on Heart radio stations around the country), American Honey and Perfect Day. But there are now skippable songs and the album just rings of everything that I love about music. Their sound is very much a mixture of country, pop and rock. I LOVE it!
It has been a very long time coming, personally I have waited 18 months for this, but, during a girly holiday in Cornwall, Kerry Ellis’ album, Anthems, arrived through my letterbox. I think the girls I was holidaying with would agree that I could not retain my excitement. As soon as I arrived home, the signed CD from Play.com was in the ghettoblaster filling my house with anthemic noise.
The single of ‘I’m Not That Girl’ is out now and is available from the following retailers:
Over the last few weeks, you will have done well to be a television watcher or a radio listener and avoided hearing the names Kerry Ellis or Brian May. Both have been on a media tour promoting Kerry’s first studio album produced by the legendary Queen guitarist. They have visited radio studios and various live and pre-recorded TV shows in the run up to the 13th September release date of the long awaited album called Anthems.
Well, there have been many rumours flying around theatreland the last few days!! Let me reiterate….these are RUMOURS!! None confirmed, all from the trusted world that is FaceBook!
