The Sharleen Spiteri excitement is palpable as I enter The Jamhouse, a stylish live music venue in Birmingham’s fashionable jewellery quarter. This historic Georgian building, bedecked with Christmas lights and a gargantuan Christmas tree, has been hijacked by BRMB’s Live at the Local series of gigs that sees huge acts play intimate gigs exclusively for listeners. Tonight’s 200 strong crowd of lucky ticket winners and VIP guests were here to witness the sultry Glaswegian Sharleen Spiteri. Of previous Texas fame, she has struck it out alone this year with top 3 album success in Melody that’s steeped in 60’s Soul and 50’s Rock.

As I sit wondering whether Sharleen would wear that stuffy high-collared dress that she has worn endlessly to promote her solo album, or whether she will revert to the sexy Spiteri that everyone recognises her for, she bounds down the steps from the dressing room area and onto the stage in a short black sequin dress. A happy medium struck between the two perhaps?
What followed was an incredibly short, yet utterly astounding, acoustic set by Spiteri and two support guitarists, one of which looked like he had just stepped out of the Proclaimers!


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We were treated to delightful acoustic versions of three songs from Melody including All The Times I Cried, Stop I Don’t Love You Anymore and her latest single It Was You (released 1st December), which were all met with enthusiastic applause and cheers from the crowd.
However, I would have to say that the most rapturous applause and fervour was generated when she belted out the huge Texas hit Black Eyed Boy, which still to this day showcases her amazing vocal talent that has filled stadiums over and over. Spiteri had to admit that she’d been worried if she could reach the notes sitting down and joked that she’d “Got a sweat on with that one!”. A surprise cover of The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I go? was also met with elation.

Just as quickly as Spiteri bounded on stage, she left it. Her early morning commitments to GMTV the next day meant that she had to rush off after only five songs. Whilst the audience were left practically gagging for more, I can’t help but feel that I witnessed something really special and intimate tonight. It will probably be hard to match, although I wait with baited breath for her early 2009 tour that sees Sharleen Spiteri hit Birmingham Symphony Hall on 8th February.

Michelle Owen

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