Never perform with animals or children - or, it would seem, hairy black wigs! You just never know what they’re going to do next.
Al Start’s triumphant Stars in their Eyes style victory as kd lang on the bill of L of a Tribute Night was overshadowed somewhat in her encore performance by a totally unscripted moment which completely stole the show.
It was apt that Al was recreating kd’s performance with the legendary Roy Orbison (played by Belinda O’Hooley) of his hit ‘Crying’ as most of the 500 plus lesbians in St David’s Hall, Cardiff, had tears streaming down their face. And how Al managed to keep a straight face and continue to belt out the classic while the wig she had pulled from Belinda’s head had attached itself to one of Ms O’Hooley’s suit buttons and was hanging down like a giant black muff was nothing short of a miracle!
It was a memorable ending to what had been a totally unforgettable night of humour and fabulous music.
The L of a Tribute Night was the fourth L of a Night event organised by those Freshly Squeezed ladies, Belinda and Rhoda McClure. Departing from the usual bill of lesbians doing their own thing, the girls had put together an evening where some of the top dyke acts around paid their own special tribute to the greats.
Belinda had set the ball rolling when she recreated her real 2001 Stars in their Eyes victory as Annie Lennox and it was obvious from the start that these girls were really getting into their roles when Belinda stepped on stage minus her Robert Redford locks as a closely-cropped redhead.
The “no food” diet she had been trying hadn’t had its desired effect and she had to forego wearing the famous tartan suit. But with her gentle Scottish accent and red lipstick she was an impressive Annie Lennox as she sang favourite hits, ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)’, ‘Walking on Broken Glass’ and ‘Why’.
Tara Simms provided a complete contrast when she performed as the brilliant Melissa Etheridge. With her denims and guitar she had the audience rocking to ‘Bring Me Some Water’, ‘No Souvenirs’ and ‘Like the Way I Do’.
Greymatter were making a return to their roots as the Indigo Girls. Georgey Payne, lead vocalist and guitarist, and Emma Kavanagh, vocalist, had started their careers together performing Indigo Girls covers and the band still get likened to their American sisters.
Not surprisingly, they gave a tremendous performance with their versions of ‘Least Complicated’, ‘Galileo’ and ‘Closer to Fine’.
Manchester’s GeEkgiRL had enlisted the help of their producer Tracey Browne to perform as singing twins Tegan and Sara. It’s probably fair to say Fi and her band were at a slight disadvantage with the Canadian duo not as well-known as the other acts being covered.
(Click on the images to reveal the bigger picture!)
But nonetheless, Fi and Tracey threw themselves into the role and performed an excellent set including ‘I Hear Noises’, ‘Speak Slow’, ‘Living Room’ and ‘Wouldn’t Like Me’ and picked up a few bonus points with their good-natured accented banter.
The standard of the acts was amazing and Al was going to have to produce the performance of her life if she was going to win.
The evening’s fabulously funny compere Zoe Lyons, who I last saw trying to survive a reality TV show, commented in her introduction that Al was taking the evening very seriously. But I don’t think any of us realised just how serious! For a second when she stepped on stage, I thought it was kd. She had the look, the hair and the voice. Boy, did she have the voice!
(Click on the images to reveal the bigger picture!)
After the ever popular ‘Constant Craving’ and ‘Miss Chatelaine’, Al, in her best Canadian accent, explained what an honour it had been to sing with the late, great Roy Orbison.
She was joined on stage by a transformed Ms O’Hooley with girls around me whispering, “Is it a man? Is it a woman?” I felt like saying: “No, it’s Super Belinda” as the pair performed a brilliant side-achingly funny rendition of ‘Crying’. It was a pure masterstroke.
(Click on the images to reveal the bigger picture!)
There was no phone-in vote or electronic keypads to reveal the winner, just a good old-fashioned clapometer with Zoe and special guest star Horse - who had appeared as herself - acting as judges.
It sounded like a close-run result until the ‘voting’ came in for Al. It was a landslide! And in true Stars in Their Eyes fashion, Al was called back – with Belinda – to close the show with that never-to-be-forgotten encore.
(Click on the images to reveal the bigger picture!)
Find out more www.fsconcerts.co.uk and www.myspace.com/freshlysqueezedconcerts.
L Of A Tribute Night: 29 March 2008
St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1SH
Get Belinda O'Hooley's CD Music Is My Silence online and save some money to put towards Precious Hours by Rosie Wilby and Rhona Cameron's new book, The Naked Drinking Club.
Images by Katie Lamb, www.katesphotography.com