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Only Men Aloud - Outstanding in Liverpool
| Author: Katie Robson | Published: 7th May 2009 10:39 |
Last Choir Standing winners Only Men Aloud earned a standing ovation in Liverpool last night.
With their outstanding vocal performance - "just" 17 men producing a sound more readily associated with 10 times that number - the lads from the Valleys strutted their stuff with considerable aplomb at the Liverpool Philarmonic Hall.
Tim Rhys-Evans, founder, Music Director and Conductor, led the choir through a varied and highly entertaining set, ranging from traditional Welsh repertoire such as "Cwm Rhondda" and "Ar Lan Y Mor," through a belting Tom Jones medley, to their show-stopping versions of "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat" and "Don't Rain On My Parade." The latter is widely considered to have been the pivotal song choice in their bid to win BBC1's "Last Choir Standing" contest last year.
A number of glitzy costume changes sprinkled some showbiz glamour on the choir - but the true Only Men Aloud spirit was clearly in evidence. These are ordinary guys enjoying the opportunity to do what they love, and their slightly rumpled suits and a sense that they can hardly believe their luck to be performing to over 35,000 people across the UK is immensely charming.
The choir were joined on stage by Amy Nuttall, a former Emmerdale star and the youngest person ever to have starred in the Lloyd Webber/Mackintosh production "Phantom of the Opera." Amy added a touch of glamour, and her vocal performance was good, if perhaps not quite bold enough to match the sheer strength of Only Men Aloud.
Rhys-Evans announced during the performance that following the success of their debut eponymously-titled album, he and accompanist Jeffrey Howard are now busy arranging a new selection of songs for a second offering, due out later this year. This was clearly welcome news for the sell-out crowd at the ‘Phil.
As Only Men Aloud high-kicked their way to the remaining dates on the current tour, a smiling and thoroughly-entertained audience made their way out into the windy Liverpool night, with many hoping that the BBC will be running another Last Choir Standing series - soon!
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