Marking 30 years of hugely influential success, played the second date of their celebratory UK tour at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Saturday with the original duo of Jazzie B and Carol Wheeler gracing the illuminated stage for a night of reminiscing.
With Jazzie B elevated up on high Carol Wheeler kicked off the night with their 1989 hit “Keep on movin‘”. A crowd pleaser at the best of times, this kick started the audience into standing up in the aisles and singing along, transporting them to a time when tie dyed tops and baggy, ripped jeans and Grolsch bottle tops adorning your shoes were all the rage.
The first few songs seamlessly flow from one to another from “Missing You” into “Living In The Light” with Carols’ vocals just as soulful and smooth as ever.
Joining the group for vocals on “Love Enuff” and “I care“, Charlotte Kelly delivered another glorious vocal tour de force until it was time for Mr B himself to take to the stage.
Recalling the years that had gone by and the journey he and the band had taken over the last 30 years his heartfelt and sincere words hit home to the audience connecting with the audience physically and spiritually.
At times, speaking from his parapet, Jazzie delivered his impassioned monologues and songs with an almost preacher-like delivery. Hitting home to the audience congregation, many whom have followed the band along their journey, they held onto his every word and you could almost feel that at any moment they would scream “hallelujah” in total abandonment.
Carol Wheeler joined the band once again for the finale. Flowing from “Get a life” into the highly anticipated song “Back to life” the audience were enraptured and totally in the moment.
Soul II Soul may have been going for 30 years but they have lost nothing of their passion and enthusiasm for the music and for life itself. A truly positive and uplifting night that show how diverse and how before their time the band were. Here’s to the next 30 years.
