Gig Review: The Overtones plus support Jessica Clemmons - Hammersmith Apollo ✭✭✭✭

The Overtones

support - Jessica Clemmons

I'm going to be honest from the start, this was a bit of an odd gig for me. Nothing to do with the singing and performances, which were really good, but ultimately the support act didn't really fit the genre of the evening.

Jessica Clemmons, hailing from Texas has a very strong voice with great tonal quality. But standing on the Apollo stage to backing tracks does let the evening down. With a mixture of songs from her albums, and the odd Motown medley thrown in for a bit hand clapping, Jessica really needs a band to provide her backing, especially on a stage as big as the Apollo.

The Overtones however did have a band, and the fans were out in force dancing away the evening to a myriad of hits such as Sh-Boom, Perfect, Runaround Sue and For The Longest Time. The hits kept a-coming and the crowd kept a-dancing... But for me it lacked the intimacy of last years Palladium gig and the sound just wasn't loud enough to fill the space.

The boys do put on one hell of a show though, and the fans love it. They even come into the auditorium to have a sing amongst the crowd. The dancing is spot on, leg waves and arm shuffles all in sync with each other, and the harmonies are wonderful to listen to.

Overall an interesting evening with a vast difference of styles - it was just lacking something I can't quite put my finger on.

4 stars ✭✭✭✭

Remaining tour dates

DECEMBER 2012

Mon 03 Cardiff St Davids Hall 029 2087 8444

Tue 04 Guildford G Live 0844 7701 797

Wed 05 Ipswich Regent 01473 433 100

Fri 07 Brighton Dome 01273 709 709

Sat 08 Portsmouth Guildhall 023 9282 4355

Mon 10 Birmingham Symphony Hall 0121 780 3333

Tue 11 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall 0115 989 5555

Wed 12 Scunthorpe Baths Hall 01724 297 861

Fri 14 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 0151 709 3789

Sat 15 Blackpool Opera House 0844 856 1111

Sun 16 Sheffield City Hall 0114 278 9789

Tue 18 Stoke Victoria Hall 0870 060 6649