There is an excited buzz right across the huge, and very near capacity, auditorium of the Congress Theatre as the house lights go down and the five members of the band take their places on the various platforms towards the back of the stage.
Between the band and audience are five empty microphone stands, but they won’t be empty for long because, as the music fills the building, and the huge crowd clap and cheer, five young men slide there way onto the stage in perfect time with the music and begin to deliver exactly what is required of them – some of Motown’s greatest hits.
Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone by The Temptations makes for a perfect opener as it gives the guys the chance to not only show off the power of each of their voices but it also affords a great opportunity to blast out some stunning five-part harmonies, and they soon set a tone that continues throughout the show.
What follows is two hours of the classic hits from the Motown label. The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Jimmy Ruffin, The Isley Brothers, Edwin Starr and, of course, Mr Stevie Wonder, are all celebrated in style.
The harmonies just seem to get better and better, the choreography is slick and just as tight as the harmonies and, most importantly, the joy that exudes from the stage reaches each and every person in the auditorium and, before the first number has ended, people are leaving their seats to take up positions around the side of the room where they can really let go and dance their hearts out.
It would be very easy, working with such an amazing back catalogue of songs, to just deliver them and it would be a good show, but when you add in five tremendous personalities, some great interaction with the crowd and one member of the band who not only dances rings around the others, but can also carry off a red glitter belt with perfect style, what you have is the perfect Motown celebration.
***** Five Stars