A recent leg operation didn’t deter the 63-year-old former Spandau Ballet frontman from pulling out his latest UK tour which kicked off in Portmouth last night…
REVIEW By Ian Woolley
PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL TONY HADLEY BIG SWING TOUR
Recently, I asked what his fans can expect on his new tour.”Yes predominantly I will always do my pop stuff but we have got a vinyl album coming out to accompany the tour which comes out mid-February but then I’ve got a new ‘new’ album which is a contemporary pop album coming out in 2025. So we’ve been really busy doing bits and bobs and it’s good to switch heads and when we perform it takes you into a different head space. And the swing stuff is so laid back and super cool with some great songs and great lyrics as well”.
credit Quiz Britain
A near-capacity Guildhall witnessed a suited Hadley (complete with a leg brace on his right leg) enter the stage carrying a glass of ‘Jack’, which even Sinatra would have proved of back in the day. With a four-piece assembled brass section behind alongside his regular band on either side separated by floor-mounted spots, the stage had that retro feel.
As he apologised to the crowd for his recent leg op, a seated Hadley launched into his first number, the Nina Simone classic “Feeling Good”. The crowd were feeling it to as “The Mood I’m In” led into “Fly Me To The Moon” and then “The Good Life”. The latter a nod to it’s singer Tony Bennett whom Tony met in person with his mum. Up came the first pair of Spandau classics delivered in a swing style, “Only When You Leave”, and as Tony publicly declares, his personal favourite Spandau Ballet song, “Through The Barricades”.
Tony Hadley duets with Lily Gonzalez on ‘Through The Barricades’ (credit Quiz Britain)
As Tony prefers to stand for this number, long-time band member Lily Gonzalez joins him on the vocals.
“Just A Gigolo” and “Wives And Lovers” came next with a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer if the lyrics might offend today’s audience. “Love For Sale” flowed into “True” as Tony dipped back into his pop roots. The last three numbers, “Wait For You” and “Bewitched” was sandwiched by one of his new numbers from the BBC piano room sessions recorded recently, “Walk Of Shame” which for me was one of the surprise highlights of the set.
The second set opened with “Touch Me”, “Too Close For Comfort” and another new song, “The Summer Wind”. “I Wanna Be Around” mellowed into “The Lady Is A Tramp” and for the first time from where I was sitting, you could hear the audience singing along.
“You Make Me Feel So Young” was followed by “Alfie” after Hadley told the audience of the time he was introduced to Michael Caine through his friend Bob Hoskins at a charity function.
“Yes, I’ve heard of you”, replied the actor. “My Daughter drives me mad by playing your records!”
The next set of songs Hadley chose, apart from one, were some of the best swing classics Hadley could never leave off the playlist. “Mack The Knife”, “Come Fly With Me” and “That’s Life” with the latter getting the warmest applause of the evening and rightfully so. Hadley’s poise and delivery left no doubt to anybody in the auditorium that he can deliver the big numbers when it’s needed.
Tony Hadley at the Guildhall (credit Quiz Britain)
Talking of big numbers, Spandau Ballet’s “Gold” brought the room alight as the set final was the Sinatra classic “My Way” . With a ‘jack’ in hand and a nod to the crowd, Hadley really did. The fans expected an encore and Tony and the band delivered with two final numbers “One For My Baby” and “If I Can Dream” which brought a standing ovation their performance undoubtedly deserved. Every member of his band played a vital part in bringing together timeless swing classics and pop hits in a way that looked effortless.
“Sinatra would call it easy, and in 2024, Hadley provides the cool”.
And timeless classics always go down well with everyone who appreciates well-written and delivered songs.
“Rod (Stewart) has just come out with a new swing album, and I think people do look at the past. So I do it and of course, Michael Bublé does it and there are other swing singers out there and because it just sounds so good with the brass section and a band that’s swinging”, Tony tells me.
“There was no way I was ever going to cancel this tour”, 63-year-old Tony announced finally.
The Big Swing Tour 2024
If tonight’s performance is as good as the rest of the tour, then Hadley’s latest offering will please his Spandau fans and those of a certain age who remember those swing classics sung in a way that brings back those memories.
Don’t miss it.
In our February issue of the Beat, we asked him about his favourite swing classic, and he reveals the time that he met Tony Bennett backstage along with which crooner he took his mum to see. Copies are available on our website.
For remaining tickets to see Tony Hadley’s Big Swing Tour 2024, visit www.tonyhadley.com