Music
tribute by way of ‘Chain Gang’ and ‘That Lucky Old Sun’ respectively. On his first of many backstage apparel adjustments (from dungarees to sharp suit), his humour shines through when he shows what it’d be like if ‘Michael Jackson had joined Riverdance’. Like all the best tribute acts, Melvin
gives an insight to what it might’ve been to witness the great Otis Redding; his passionate and heartfelt mimicry of ‘Satisfaction’ and ‘Hard To Handle’, are beyond belief – there may be no blood, but there’s plenty sweat and tears. Off again, he’s back with curly wig and a tight, shiny one-piece for the ‘Sex Machine’ that was James Brown. The singer rounds off events with an invitation to two ladies to join him in ‘The Twist’ and every dance craze under the sun-like spotlight, bringing the curtain down with the poignant, ‘Can’t Turn You Loose’. (Martin C. Strong) ■ The Bongo Club, 557 2827, until Aug 30, 7pm, £12 (£11).
MEOW MEOW – FELINE INTIMATE Cabaret will never be the same ●●●●●
The former star of La Clique, who counts David Bowie among her fans, strips away the mystique of cabaret in this riotous postmodern deconstruction of her art. That’s literally the case when during the first few minutes of the show she’s interrupted by her producer who informs the diva her dress was only hired for the first song. Following a swift and awkward strip, Meow is left to perform in her undergarments, bemoaning the cheapness of the production that’s evidently beneath her. But she’s a professional and the show must go on, so she begrudgingly delivers a series of seductive torch songs, climaxing with crowd-surfing and a costume change in mid-song and then a triumphant return to the stage in a new dress. Meow’s got her haughty but daffy
diva down to a tee. And while the show’s a mess (but intentionally so, of course), her performance is anything but as Meow switches between belting out songs, ordering her band, the audience and the venue crew around and performing some impressively tricky acrobatics. (Miles Fielder) ■ Assembly@Princes Street Gardens, 623 3030, until 29 Aug (not 16, 23), 8pm, £16.50–18.50 (£14.50–16.50).
(cid:50)(cid:51)(cid:46)(cid:49)(cid:44) (cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:36) Y ENOUGH
CRAZY ENOUGH CRAZY
l
a e m o D a r u a L : o o h P t
““utterly gorgeous utterly gorgeous”” The List **** The List ****
““ intoxicating and unmissable intoxicating and unmissable”” The Times **** The Times ****
‘AWE-INSPIRING’ ‘ELECTRIFYING’ (cid:50)(cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:37)(cid:76)(cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:61)(cid:67)(cid:77)(cid:61)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:54)(cid:63)(cid:63)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:83) (cid:47)(cid:35)(cid:55)(cid:1)(cid:44)(cid:59)(cid:65)(cid:59)(cid:84)(cid:67)(cid:72)(cid:63)(cid:1)(cid:47)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:78)(cid:70)(cid:59)(cid:72)(cid:62) (cid:22)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:14)(cid:19)(cid:26)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:1)(cid:32)(cid:79)(cid:65)(cid:79)(cid:77)(cid:78) (cid:18)(cid:17)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:22)(cid:74)(cid:71) (cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:81)(cid:15)(cid:77)(cid:78)(cid:73)(cid:76)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:59)(cid:76)(cid:65)(cid:63)(cid:15)(cid:61)(cid:73)(cid:71)(cid:16)(cid:79)(cid:69)
Then I saw her face. Now I’m a believer.
www.list.co.uk/i-saw-you 19–26 Aug 2010 THE LIST 61