Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference."This place is full of Gibb," enthuses the last surviving Bee Gee.
Barry Gibb is performing for the first time without his two brothers, Maurice and Robin, who died in 2003 and 2012 respectively. However, the 67-year-old has his eldest son, Stephen, who resembles Henry Rollins and sounds like early 1990s rockers Dan Reed Network, assisting him on guitar, and Maurice's daughter, Sammy, on vocals.
The slender singer's Tammy Wynette-style twang is ideally suited to evocative numbers such as "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?". Gibb starts with the robust triptych of "Jive Talkin'", "Lonely Days" (from 1970's "Man for All Seasons") and "You Should Be Dancing", a disco gem that prompts pockets of joyous, tail-end-of-a-wedding dancing. It's immediately clear that Gibbs's trembling, high-pitched falsetto voice is still in terrific shape, especially on the sweet "First of May", a track from 1969 that he dedicates to Robert Stigwood, an early champion for the Bee Gees.
Gibb, who still has enviable locks and a beautifully kept beard that wouldn't look out of place in Hoxton, methodically trawls through the Bee Gees' extensive back catalogue. The much-mocked threesome - Kenny Everett's "Massive Chew Sets" being the most memorable parody of the Bee Gees - certainly got the last laugh by selling a mind-boggling 220 million albums in their 55-year career.
After a strong start, the middle section of the gig is more variable. Highlights include early (and reasonably rare) tracks such as "Every Christian Lion-Hearted Man Will Show You", "New York Mining Disaster 1941" and "Morning of My Life". However, their standout ballad is still "How Deep Is Your Love", with one of the finest lyrics about being young lovers ever to feature in a pop song: "'Cause we're living in a world of fools/ Bringing us down/ When they should all just let us be." It provokes a standing ovation as does his perky foot-stomper "Spicks and Specks".
Dirges such as "Too Much Heaven" and "Fight the Good Fight" threaten to dampen spirits until the inevitable disco session kicks in: "Stayin' Alive", "If I Can't Have You", "Night Fever" and "More Than a Woman" are blasted out back to back. If you don't waggle a limb to one of those you probably need to check your pulse.
John Travolta isn't here, disappointingly, but apart from that this is a polished, poignant performance that ends on the sensational "Massachusetts".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments