Nostalgia at its height

By Mahes Perera

There were no hip-hop shrieks of appreciation, no frantic body shakes or arms swaying in rhythm or out of rhythm - this was a concert that reached out to those who appreciate the lilting and cool soul sounds of music... sounds that they grew up with... songs that took the audience to a level that revived nostalgia and gave them immense satisfaction.

It was a musical journey, Part 2, through the 60s, 70s and the 80s and thanks must go out to Damayantha and Friends for staging a much-needed concert in the midst of clashing stage shows which more or less was the order of the day, in the past few weeks.

'That's What Friends Are For' the haunting top hit of Dionne Warwick was an ideal anthem for the concert and despite the live telecast of the Sri Lanka - England cricket encounter that day, all music lovers of the hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s were there to applaud the singers and musicians as they delivered the songs packed with emotion, which saw the audience leave the auditorium humming the melodies or singing snatches of their favourite songs.

Vocal harmony

Damayantha with vocal harmony from Choro Calibre opened the show with a selection that went down well with the audience, starting off with Lobo's 'How Can I Tell Her," Jermaine Jackson's 'Daddy's Home' and rounded that section off with the oft heard 'Help Me Make It Through The Night', before taking a page from Elvis Presley's song book by singing 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' and 'It's Now or Never' and ended his set with a selection of songs by the immortal Clarence Wijewardena.

What followed next was a well-harmonised and strong expression of "Joy To The World" by Choro Calibre a vocal group who in a short spell of time has found unbelievable popularity. Good luck to them.

Dalreen, or as the compere Sohan termed her Dazzling Dalreen, moved into the limelight and kept the audience alive with the hit 'Love Will Keep Us Alive', 'To Love Somebody,' 'Hot Stuff' with an enthusiastic guitar solo and rounded off her spot with a sentimental 'He'll Have To Go' duetting with Damayantha which made the ladies seated in front of me react with happiness as they applauded her performance; which I'm sure must have sent them into a happy nostalgic mood!

Compliment

To Sohan must go the compliment that his voice quality has not changed too much despite the passage of time. His version of the Diana Ross hit 'My Endless Love' sung with Yasmin, his female vocalist in the band X'periments, reflected the soul stirring sounds that made the song into a global hit that it turned out to be. Yasmin was in full flow giving the emotion that the song demanded. She has always been a convincing singer of ballads. Her solo spotlight of the endearing 'Nobody's Child' and then Whitney Houston's 'The Greatest Love Of All' and after that 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' proved that the Fonseka clan were kind of special in music.

Sohan who doubled up as compere threaded the show together with his natural unusual sense of humour which elicited a laugh a minute from the audience.

When he decides to retire from singing he could fall back on being a stand up showman and will without doubt leave the other comperes in the dust.

After the interval Joey Lewis backed by Mirage comprising Donald, Benjy, Kevin and a new keyboardist, moved into the limelight starting off his set with 'Cracklin Rosie' followed it up with 'I'm A Believer' and a nugget from his Amazing Grace era 'Jingles On My Mind.'

Finale

There was 'Daniel' and for the audience participation 'Halalujah', 'Song Sung Blue,' 'Hey Jude', 'Sweet Caroline' and a throbbing 'Country Roads' saw Sohan and Kevin joining in the vocals, and which brought Joey's performance to a close.

It was left to Noeline to guide the show to its finale and she did it well in her own style. She started off her set with a gospel rendition of 'Amazing Grace', which she said she dedicated to the late Malcolm Andree who launched her on her musical career.

She called for a minute's silence from the audience as a mark of respect to Malcolm Andree who in the early years was an active showbiz personality, taking over from where his father Donovan left off.

She invited Sohan to sing 'Time Of My Life' and together they gave exciting expression to their times. Noeline's version of the Simon & Garfunkel celebrated hit 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' was a gospel one which led her to a sing a Christmas medley and made the audience join in.

By the way, if I said Noeline saw the show to its end I stand corrected. It was Sohan with his dramatic singing of 'Till' and the 'Last Waltz' with Yasmin that brought the show to its actual close.

Sohan's band X'periments have not lost their expertise - they jelled with every singer. It was all there that evening - an excellent band, crowd participation and rich vocals. Who could ask for more?