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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
12:51 PM 28th September 2015
arts

Gig Review: Leo Sayer - Leeds City Varieties

 
The City Varieties in Leeds is a great venue for intimate concerts, Bucks Fizz recently played there and Elkie Brooks is appearing there this autumn.

Michael Armstrong is a name that you might not have heard before but this former builder has appeared alongside Cliff Richard and is a name to look out for. His banter with the audience in between songs is just as entertaining as his music. He shares with us a song called Tough Love which he sent to Cliff to appear on his recent Rock n Roll album, it didn't make it but as he says, he got a nice email from him and described it as the best rejection letter he has had. A warm and entertaining set that lead up nicely to the main act of the night.

Its good to be in Yorkshire, Leo Sayer informs his fans as he walks on stage. He didn't think he had appeared at the City Varieties before and to my memory I don't think he has.

It is easy to forget that back in the mid 1970's he was as big as Rod Stewart and Elton John and had several American Number One albums. Endless Flight being a case in point.

Having a great catalogue of tracks to perform, his set covered all his career right from his first big hit The Show Must Go On right up to tracks off his new album.

He is a great mimic too and can swap and change vocals and dialects easily. He joked with the fans about getting older and how in his new home of Australia he has a parking pass that lets those over 65 park their car in spaces reserved for them in front of the supermarket.

The set took a more downbeat path mid set as he performed tracks off the new album, Restless Years. Introducing the track How Did We Get So Old he jokes about looking in the mirror and seeing another age line appear on your face. He is still young at heart though and it was an energetic performance.

Of course he saved his best tracks to the end. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing and When I Need You might be more Radio 2 than Radio 1 these days but they still sound as good as ever. He closes with perhaps a slightly drawn out version of Raining In My Heart but we can forgive him as after nearly 2 hours on stage he had given his fans a superb night of great music.

He returns to the region on Saturday 10 October at Holmfirth Picturedome.