MICHAEL BALL & ALFIE BOE
A quick glance at what we all knew as the “pop” charts over the last ten years will show a marked difference in what now reaches the top. Where once it would be dominated by pop music acts it is often now dominated by popular music entertainers. And up there you will find Michael Ball and Alfie Boe.
Ball has been around for some time, earning his place in West End Musicals like Les Miserables, Godspell and many many more. Boe’s career is more recent but it was no doubt cemented when he too took to the stage in Les Mis, and to this day they both appear in the massive touring concert productions of that show.
But along side this they have formed a musical bond and indeed a friendship that sees them record and tour as a duo. It’s phenomenal double act, two brilliant vocalists with voices that sit well together. Add to this a first class band and amazingly smart lighting and production values and you have a quality show.
Of course that is only a part of what makes this work, the whole is brought together by two further elements. The first has to be a cleverly constructed set list, a choice of songs that will not only showcase their voices but one that will also satisfy their fans. And my word do they have a solid fan base, and one that has clearly grown up with Ball and more recently Boe. To say that at 69 years of age I was not in the oldest quadrant of that audience would be no exaggeration. And how they love these two gentlemen, and I use that word with respect. The next element has to be their charm, they are undeniably likeable, their banter is fun, occasionally saucy but never lewd and as much as they are loved by their audience they love them back.
The set is littered with familiar songs, songs from musicals, a bit of country, ballads, pop and the whole delivered with a balance of oomph, delicacy and style. Their rendering of The Voice was a full on wall of sound, so too with This Is The Greatest Show, and then in balance a gentle Homeward Bound, perhaps a little fast for my tastes but nonetheless delightful. Baker Street came with note for note loyal solos from guitar and sax, and why would you do anything else.
They sang as a duo for almost the entire show, then, taking a back seat they allowed the band to deliver a massive and impressive instrumental medley from Les Miserables before joining with Empty Chairs and Empty Tables. Ball then delivered his only solo, Stars from Les Mis. It’s a massive song but what he does is perform it as an actor who can sing, he stands stock still and on the huge screen we can see that he is delivering the piece in character, wonderful stuff.
Boe then has his moment and delivers Bring Him Home, equally impressive and again sung in character. It is moments like these that set the two apart from lesser performers, that ability to act a song from a musical and not just belt it out.
In amongst the rest of the set we had power ballads, pop, and bits of fun, who would have expected Solsbury Hill or Ferry Cross The Mersey? And could they pull off a bit of M People, well of course they could?
The ovation was well deserved, everyone on their feet cheering, despite the fact that Ball for once did not deliver Love Changes Everything, maybe disappointing a few but after such a complete show who could complain? Having heard Ball sing in the past in a more intimate venue my only thought would be that I would love to be able to hear this huge production in a smaller space, buy hey, economics come into play and with a fan base so huge, the Brighton Centre certainly is their best option.
Andrew Kay
14 April
The Brighton Centre
Rating:
I saw Alfie Boe in Bournemouth £100 a ticket. My daughter took me. Sadly people were walking out not the Alfie Boe I know he tried to be a pop star. It didn’t work. Well not for me, or dozens of other visitors in the Audians. Hear us Alfie. The doorman either watching many walk out. How sad.
I’ve recently seen the duo in Newcastle there a joy to listen to & performance was perfect,
Saw Michael Ball and Alfie Boe show at Birmingham Pulse absolutely brilliant show. Very entertaining and the singing very good.
I saw Ball and Boe on their final show of their tour. I can honestly say that they were amazing! The show was delayed due to someone at the Brighton Centre messing up ticket numbering, but the duo gave us a full 2 hours of a mixture of songs and the whole centre erupted.
Absolutely fantastically brilliant. I saw Michael and Alfie in Birmingham and they were terrific as always. The Band, singers, lighting and staging was superb! Without doubt a wonderful experience!
Sae them at the o2 were both brilliant and funny to,my son came me and he said,he throughly enjoyed the show to,i was worried as he only came for me,but he said would see them again,much love to them both
Saw them in Glasgow, what a brilliant show. They compliment each other so well.
Saw them at birmingham pulse my wife bought it for my birthday I was a bit unsure how well it would go but they were amazing I’m 56 and felt very young but I would take my teenage children to watch them the country ballards were brilliant to if. You like amazing voices go see them no matter what age you are
My daughter and I saw them in Birmingham too. They were really very entertaining and funny. No sooner it started it was soon over. We both thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t want it to end. To think they have been singing together for 10 yrs is amazing. Long may it continue.
Brilliant Birmingham show. Sound was perfect. Lighting and lasers superb and the band absolutely brilliant. B&B fantastic.
Excellent BB at the O2 on Sunday night. Great singers, artists and performers.
Saw them at the 02 as well,my grandson came with me,1st time he’d came along,he’s only 14 & we had the most fantastic night. The show was amazing & the boys on top form. A truly great night.
I actually found the Birmingham concert a bit melancholy. They never got the audience going, seemed a little flat. People walking out early, Wouldn’t go again!
We saw the show at Newcastle & then Leeds. I’m not a regular listener to their music but I was amazed at their versatility from stage production to pop and classic. Definitely entertaining show & will definitely look forward to seeing them perform again
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Me and my husband went to see them in Aberdeen in April the opening act wasn’t that brilliant but when Michael and Alfie came wow the crowd erupted they was amazing would definitely recommend anyone to see these two amazing singers can’t wait too see you again
I went to see them in Newcastle 2 weeks ago.We enjoyed the show but felt they spoilt the experience by putting a rubbish support act on first for 25 minutes.This was killing time so they could then have a 30 minute interval.Thw show didn’t start till 8.30 and they performed for 1hour 40mins.Wht can’t they do 2 45 minute acts?.They were very good but felt the support act lowered the tone of the show and such a long wait to see them.
This year’s tour was absolutely electric. The best tour from Alfie and Michael by far. Congratulations to Alfie and Michael and everyone else that were involved in this amazing tour. Long may it continue. As for Alfie as a soloist I think that he is an amazing singer, yes everyone has their own opinions but to me I think he is more himself now by singing a mixture of pop and rock songs than he has ever been. Long may it continue and hopefully maybe one day he will get to perform his own work.
I love when Michael sang Love Changes Everything with our Wonderful Carlos Marin in Il Divo. So wish Michael, Alfie, and Carlos could sing together now.
Took my mum to see Alfie and Michael in Birmingham last week .we both loved them .arena was great access for mum ..fab evening
Will they ever come to the states?