Duffy Live Review @ Central Station & Yales (Wrexham) - 05 Mar 2008

Photos By:Elly Roberts

Live Review

Top of the download chart. Top of the singles chart. Top of the album chart.

That’s how things are right now for Welsh sensation Duffy. On Wednesday 5 March, Wrexham’s Central Station played host to Britain’s top singer, which must be a record for the venue and town, and it was he first gig since the release of the album Rockferry (out March 3). This gorgeous 23 year old has got the lot – the looks, the music, the voice. And what an incredible voice it is. Comparisons are regularly made with Dusty Springfield and Amy Winehouse (who she’s just knocked off the album top spot), with 180,000 copies of her debut album ‘Rockferry’ shifted in a week, making it the fastest selling CD album of 2008. Before this prestigious gig, I had the pleasure of meeting this delightful babe at the rear of the venue mid-afternoon. Speaking with her in her native tongue, there was no hesitation in signing copies of the album, single and a magazine picture. She was so pleasant and friendly, and stressed how grateful she was for my support. Later that night, 500 fans packed the intimate venue to show their collective support too. In just under an hour, Amy Ann Duffy dazzled everyone by giving a truly stunning vocal masterclass belting out sweet soul music. Arriving with “a bag of songs and a heavy heart “, this remarkable singer showed why she’s managed to get to the top so rapidly. Stints Radio 2 and Later…with Jools Holland gave us and insight as well as a recent sold –out residency at Piccadilly’s Pigalle Club have all played their part in her recent meteoric rise to fame. Little did we, or she, I’m sure, think things would move so fast, though single ‘Mercy’, the best of 2008 so far, made it all possible. It’s always a good sign for the future when you’ve got a mixed age crowd, who went nuts when she appeared on home turf saying,

Syt dy chi yma ? How’s it going?

– knowing she couldn’t go wrong.

It’s nice to be close to home.

Nefyn in Gwynedd north west Wales she meant.

The weather I see is still fine here. Anyway I’m Duffy…

Shouts of “We love you Duffy!” rang out, bringing a beaming smile, so she was quick to add,

Thank you. I am single, which is good right now….we’re gonna start with a song called ‘Rockferry’. Here we go.

Looking fab in skin -tight jeans, red and white top and red stilettos, her 5’ 4” tiny frame hid what was to be unleashed. I don’t think anyone was quite ready for what was to come. Duffy casually warmed up those incredible pipes, grinning, pouting and shimmying throughout this mournful song. She’s never been to Rockferry on the Wirral, which she jokingly imagines is made of marshmallows, with the band and singer who were incredibly loud engulfed the venue, with Duffy’s lungs at bursting point and every lyric crystal clear. Next came the smooth love-lorn gem ‘Warwick Avenue’ followed by the early 70s soul of ‘Serious’, a song about good times.

Midway the band, except for guitarist John Green left the stage. Duffy and Green tackled the Southern Soul inflected beauty ‘Syrup And Honey’ with great skill, with the song’s highlight, “Baby baby baby,” drawing gasps from the fans and one of the biggest cheers of the night. The first of two non-album songs – ‘Breaking My Own Heart’, another superb bluesy-soul classic (download only) was delivered with typical class and style. Innocently, she confessed before singing 60s tinged ballad ‘Stepping Stone’ that,

I think I’ve been in love once, once I think, but I never told him. I wrote this from the heart,

as she dug deep to get the achingly beautiful lyrics to register, bringing out goose pimples. Then came the one we all wanted – ‘Mercy’. The opening beat set the venue dancing as it was intended to, while the blonde bombshell grooved on stage with the opening line, “ I love you” bouncing off the walls. She left the stage with

Thank you Wrexham..diolch yn fawr,

in that sweet north Walian lilt.

We knew she’d be back for more, and the best was saved till last – ‘Distant Dreamer’.

I know it might be sloppy, but I really do want to thank you for your support,

which prefixed this stunning opus. Once again she got those goose pimples popping up on the greatest vocal display I’ve ever heard from any British singer. Leaving again, and not to return, Duffy excitedly said,

Thank you so much. I’ll be back, with my next album.

I hope she keeps her promises before she becomes a world superstar, because she’s set to be just that. As for those comparisons with Dusty and Amy Winehouse? Well, truth is, neither would live with Duffy on stage. Sadly Dusty isn’t with us any longer, but Winehouse must be quaking in her beehive.

File under : Unbelievable !

Elly Roberts