MARTI PELLOW DEFINITELY ‘POPPED IN AND SOULED OUT’ TO A HOME TOWN GLASGOW SHOW

MARTI PELLOW | GLASGOW OVO HYDRO 16/03 | BY KERRY SIMMERS

On what can only be described as a Wet Wet Wet Saturday night, Marti Pellow took his Popped in Souled Out Tour home to Glasgow for the night to the OVO Hydro. Taking us back to the late eighties/early nineties but this time with the outstanding Love-to-Love Orchestra.

The night began with support act Casey McQuillen a talented singer songwriter from Boston, Massachusetts. Casey, who has received international recognition for her anti-bullying concerts belted out some heart felt numbers along with a spectacular cover of Etta James, At Last. Casey has her own tour later this year, definitely one to look out for. 

It was time…. the 10,000 strong crowd of young and old were patiently waiting as Marti Pellow took to stage, the audience welcomed him home with cheers and screams of delight. The first set comprised of the Popped In Souled Out album in its entirety. 

Marti opened the show with Wishing I Was Lucky, thirty-Seven years to the day the single was first released, and he did not disappoint. The crowd were quick to their feet to show their appreciation.  Marti commanded the stage with his Cheeky Chappy smile and a glint in his eye. He then sang East of the River which had a very impressive sax solo. Marti continued with songs such as I Remember, Angel Eye’s, Sweet Little Mystery, Temptation to name a few. The crowd participation during Angel Eye’s and Temptation were sure to be heard out with the arena. The stringed section of the Love-to-Love Orchestra brought brilliance and lyrical beauty to the rendition of Sweet Little Mystery an offering I’m glad I didn’t miss. Marti closed the first set with I Can Give You Everything. The first set left me feeling like the giddy teenager that attended my first concert at AECC in Aberdeen, where Wet Wet Wet were the first act to play in the new arena in 1990. 

Marti opened the second set with fire and a Morton’s well fired roll with square sausage and egg – a Glasgow delicacy – in his belly, as he rocked the crowd with a cover of James Taylors Steamroller Blues with a standout guitar piece. The crowd were on their feet once again and gave up their seats to claim their spot at the barrier as he continued with fan favourites such as Lip Service, Sweet Surrender, followed by the beauty of a lit-up arena with torches a glow as Marti sung the movie favourite and one of music’s best-selling records Love is All Around. Bringing the party back, the arena was bouncing with a disco cover of McFadden & Whitehead, Ain’t No Stopping Us Now/ Le Freak. Marti then started to wind things up with a Memphis Sessions number This Time, then Don’t want to forgive me now before closing with a fan favourite Goodnight Girl, where torches lit up the arena once again.

As Marti left the stage bellowing calls of “No Marti, No Party” could be heard amongst the screams and cheering for an encore. Of course, Marti returned in true Marti Style with his kilt on to give a beautiful rendition of Loreena McKennitt’s Dante’s Prayer. Marti was clearly emotional and thankful to the home crowd for their support and appreciation and finished with a cover The Beatles, With a Little Help From My Friends. Definitely a crowd pleaser and a great ending to what can only be described as a nostalgic throw back to my inner teenage years and the hustle and bustle of the crowd exiting the arena proved I wasn’t alone in my thoughts. 

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