Legends In Concert brings the Vegas experience to Melbourne but it’s a whole lot more than that. The attention to detail and authenticity of the performance is what makes Legends In Concert a fun night out.
Yes, we all know the performers aren’t the real artists. Also remember that every time the London Symphony Orchestra plays Beethoven they are a very expensive covers band.
This is a show where music snobs need to check their ego at the door. Legends in Concert gives fans a close to real experience of what each act is or was like in their day.
This third annual Legends In Concert Melbourne (only) run features the songs of Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers and Donna Summer.
The Legends In Concert setlist is customised for the country it is in. “Just because a song was a hit in America doesn’t mean its known anywhere else,” Legends boss Mark Kogan told Noise11.com. Every song in Legends In Concert is a song you will know. Every song was a hit in Australia.
The accuracy of each performance is impressive. While many of the songs are being performed the original video from the original artist is playing on the screen. When you listen to the performance from the stage but watch the screen you feel immediately transformed back to the time when up first heard the song. What is even more impressive is how musical director George Safir syncs the live performance with the video which gets back to the start of this story and the word “authenticity”.
Kevin ‘Elvis’ Mills is a veteran Elvis Presley. He has been doing Elvis for 25 years. Kevin mixes a few clever improvised lines with his Elvis performance, thanking his “son-in-law” for the earlier performance, a subtle reference to Michael Jackson’s one-time and short-lived marriage to Lisa Marie Presley.
Damian Brantley performs as Michael Jackson. This shows features the ‘This Is It’ Thriller routine, the one we eventually saw in the movie sourced from the Sandrine Orabona footage filmed at the Jackson world tour rehearsals in the months leading up to his death.
Lori Mitchell-Gay as Tina Turner was remarkable. She has the Tina power in her vocals to deliver a highlight moment of this show. Likewise, while John Anthony has somewhat visual similarity to Rod Stewart, its his raspy vocal that gives the audience a sincere depiction of the Rod hits. Tino Ibach has Stevie Wonder’s moves, including the head nod spot on but his keyboards, physical appearance and vocal similarity makes this part of the show uncanny.
Rainere Martin is Donna Summer. Like Elvis, Donna Summer never toured Australia so this is Australia’s chance to see what may have been. Of the eight performances in this show, only Donna and Elvis never toured Australia. Donna and Barbra Streisand had a massive hit in Australia together with ‘No More Tears (Enough Is Enough). The Cyndi Lauper character Nellie Norris fills in for Babs.
Cyndi was a stretch to believe. Nellie plays the character a bit too bubbly. Maybe as Cyndi toured Australia not long ago, this one was a bit distant from what Cyndi fans would have recently experienced.
I’ve never seen the real Kenny Rogers in concert but by the visuals on the scene David Karl got the actions right.
Music fans will reconnect with his past memories at Legends in Concert. Its like a animated musical version of Madame Tussards. For two and a hours, Legends in Concert allows you to time travel across 60 years of classic hits.
Legends in Concert
Dates: January 18-29, 2017
Performances: Jan 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 – 8pm
Jan 20, 27 – 7.30pm
Sat 21 and Sat 28 – 2pm and 7.30pm
Sun 22 – 1.30 pm
Sun 29 – 7pm
Venue: The Palms at Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank
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