Steve Steinman's a Dead Ringer for Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf Trilogy raises the roof at The Grove
SHOWMAN Steve Steinman dragged himself out of his sick bed to appear at Dunstable's Grove Theatre on Friday and his fans welcomed him back with their usual noisy enthusiasm.
The jovial Mancunian found fame 20 years ago on ITV's Stars In Their Eyes, as a Meatloaf tribute act ("I had hair when I started!" quips the now bald-headed singer), yet he never seems to tire of the gig.
He'd already done 102 shows in the latest tour of The Meat Loaf Trilogy, some with a 40-piece orchestra and others with his immensely talented backing band, The Lost Boys, by the time he arrived at The Grove.
But did he look jaded ? Not a bit of it. He blasted on stage like a Bat Out of Hell and the high octane performance didn't stop until the encore had been put to bed.
It's his third visit to the venue and the show is as slick as the well-oiled rock machine it's now become.
The stocky Steinman looks the unlikeliest of rock stars but there's no doubting his incredible voice which some fans claim is now better than the original.
It helps that you're surrounded by the ultimate rocker's fantasy line-up – a pair of sexy stocking-clad girl singers and a line-up of young, long-haired musicians, providing a driving sound that powers the concert along.
It would be easy to dismiss the kitsch set, pyrotechnics, skimpily dressed sirens and moody head-banging guitarists – if it wasn't such a successful formula.
Backing singers Emily Clark and Shereen Barlow both have lusty voices with Emily, soon to appear at The Grove as Dolly Parton, doing the business in the power ballads like Total Eclipse and providing the love interest in Steinman's other monster machine, Vampire's Rock.
The boys in the band - on guitars – Henry JT Bird, Jordan Bracewell and Ben Grimsley, Birdy's brother Arthur on keyboard and Nicky Miller on drums – are each given their own moment in the spotlight to wow the crowd with their expertise and finesse.
And strutting through it all is Steinman himself as a northern Svengali, nurturing the young talent and providing the meat for a night of non-stop rock.
The singer has promised to come back next year with Bat The Symphony – if he can shoehorn the orchestra into the venue - and Vampire's Rock, which proved a big crowd pleaser at The Grove just a few months ago.
He's also going to try and persuade rock chic, Toyah, to appear in the Dunstable Vampire show after the '80s singer featured in some performances this year.
On stage 45-year-old Steve admitted he was feeling his age as he thrashed through the numbers but perhaps that was the illness talking.
Giving up the restaurant and bar business to take a chance on Matthew Kelly's TV talent show was the best move he's ever made – and it's been his meal ticket ever since.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Friday 25 May 2012
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