AT LAST – The Etta James Story

AT LAST – The Etta James Story
By John Livings. A Room 8 production. Playhouse Theatre, Brisbane. 5 – 9 June 2013

Biographical musicals are becoming popular. Etta James fans packed the Playhouse for last night’s opening, filled with anticipation. They were well rewarded!

Vika Bull has established a formidable reputation in her own right for that fantastic voice but when she channels Etta James in sad love songs and bluesy numbers the voice cuts down deep into your psyche and unearths almost forgotten memories. That’s what made Etta James’ reputation so big and widely awarded: it’s not just the wonderful voice and her unique style, but the lyrics so often connect with the listener’s life experience.

As Vika and Tibor related Etta’s turbulent life story in stages, between songs, I couldn’t help but notice how similar her circumstances were with Edith Piaf’s and Judy Garland’s, for example. They were all forced into singing publicly from an early age, all became feisty, all made bad partner choices, all became substance abusers. And all sang passionately from the gut. To paraphrase a quote from Etta: When I sing I get rid of all the shit inside me.

Etta loved to work with big bands. Vika’s boys, The Essential R&B Band, is BIG – big in talent and big in sound: John McAll (MD and keyboards); Tibor Gyapjas (narrator and trumpet); Ben Gillespie (trombone and vocals); Chris Becker (bass); John Watson (drums); Dion Hirini (guitar) and Anton Delecca (saxophone).

What a great entertainment family they’ve all become. What a night!

Jay McKee

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