Live Review: Soul-A Gogo Live Featuring The Bamboos

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Vince Peach’s Soul Time, the PBS community floods into Corner Hotel preparing for an evening of straight-up soul. Miss Goldie opens the DJ booth and plays a few upbeat classics.

It’s cold outside, but we don’t have to leave til fucking 3am

Armed with brass, the boys from The Bamboos jump up on stage wearing their trademark suits. They start with Amen Brother, an instrumental number that sets the pace for tonight’s set comprising tight sounds and dance-heavy tunes. Kylie Auldist enters wearing a vintage Go-Go dress and the crowd erupts. Her voice is pure with a smooth tone that incorporates immense power and she ably fronts the band, capturing their soulful vibe. Not only does she manage to hold all the sass and attitude of a classic soul singer, but she also manages to avoid tacky emulation.

“You know when Vince plays a song and you are just like, ‘What!?’” The Bamboos’ singer/lead guitarist Lance Ferguson enthuses. “Here’s a song I heard him play that I loved.” The guys include a couple of covers including Barbara Acklin’s Love Makes A Woman and Kings Of Leon’s King Of The Rodeo. Tim Rogers even makes a cameo appearance singing the song on which he features, I Got Burned. But it’s the band’s two songs, On The Sly and Like Tears In Rain from the album 4, that really get us moving.

Every member of this six-piece band exhibit their abilities via solos, with Anton Delecca’s flute solo the clear standout. Drummer Graeme Pogson’s high energy effort showcases his rhythmic intellect and proves another highlight. Bassist Yuri Pavlinov’s impeccable timing carries the band, all the while executing some seriously complex bass lines. Auldist’s voice is never overpowered by the horn section and The Bamboos’ rhythms are smooth enough to engage the dancefloor.

When trying to call Peach to the stage, Ferguson jokes, “He’s done a runner. He’s gone to the front bar.” The guys wrap it up with one of their newer compositions, Never Did I Stop Loving You, as a tribute to the beloved radio show host. “It’s cold outside, but we don’t have to leave til fucking 3am,” screams Ferguson and we prepare for a long, soul-filled night.