Live Review: The Empress of Soul – Gladys Knight in Perth Australia 2024
Gladys Knight in Concert – The Farewell Tour on 19 of March 2024 at Perth Riverside Theatre, Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
We were immersed in the vocal presence of Gladys Knight, aka The Empress of Soul, a 7-time Grammy winner. To witness and “review” a living legend – a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer inductee – is a great honour, if not humbling. The Riverside Theatre in Perth Western Australia upheld the ambience of intimate proximity, echoing the pitch perfect escape from the world of advanced adulthood.
The Motown alumnus recorded with her family group Gladys Knight & The Pips between the 60s and the 80s. With two number 1 Billboard Hot 100, a dozen or so number 1 R&B Singles and six number 1 R&B albums – it would have been a challenge to select the music for a 75-minute set. We also assumed the crowd would reside on a similar demographic, but that wasn’t the case, as it seemed the fans of the boomer generation had renewed their vows with the Empress through the presence of their children and grandchildren, proliferating a surprising middle age demographics.
At 8:30pm, band members of the full piece set took their positions on stage, along with three backup singers, a visual precursor to a great show. The 79 year old was then escorted onto stage, arms in arms by a backstage gentleman – not because she needed the physical support – rather it was a good old fashion, chivalrous gesture from the south.
Donned in a white blouse under a black jacket, Gladys sparked the night with the 1969 Grammy nominated track Friendship Train, a single with the Pips, followed by Daddy Could Sweat and Nitty Gritty. Within those tracks, fans were awed by the living spirit of Georgia as she oozed the southern aura through her soulful vocals and grace, transporting fans back to the time when music was wonderful, giving us the romance and mystery through the likes of Nat King Cole, Billy Eckstine, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, the Temptation and the Pips…Ok, so we may have stolen the line from Gladys cover in End Of The Road Medley. Nevertheless, images of Atlanta, MLK, Motown, black and white TV, Berry Gordy and the aforesaid resurfaced from our subconscious.
At 79, Gladys weaved across the stage from side to side, sometimes singing to a section of the crowd, and often replying to the individuals who shouted, “We love you Gladys.” She often leaned forward while expelling high notes. She invests heavily in her faith, constantly referencing God, “He has made something extraordinary – that is love – for all of us. L-O-V-E.” Her spiritual guide became a regular preach throughout.
It was during the ballads when her vocals shined without the beautiful clutter of instruments such as Oh What A Love I have Found and I Don’t Want to Know. We were tranced by the soulful infection and seduced by the vocal charisma. Silence ensued. The desperation in her vocals were palpable. We were longing for the classics of our lives – That’s What Friends Are For and I’ll Never Love This Way Again but the recorded collaborations with Dionne Warwick didn’t make the cut.
Perhaps the first recognisable track among the younger patrons came through License to Kill – the track title to the 1989 Bond movie. The introduction transported us back to the late 80’s, personified by Glady’s soulful vocals that stood well for over 35 years. The hook delivered with the backup vocals was infectious and awe-inspiring, akin to a live performance in a orchestra for the Bond movie. The drums, the guitars and every instrument sweeping across the theatre accompanied by Gladys Knight’s vocals elevated us to the sounds of a futuristic 80’s journey.
It wasn’t all about Gladys Knight. Sure, the Georgian was the star, but there were starlets amongst the members on stage. The three-backup vocalist scintillating through the voice of the classic Motown live were also key to a zestful night on the soul train, thanks to their E Flat minor range. Marvin Gaye’s I Heard It Through The Grapevine was a classic example, as the buzz trickled across the theatre, beaming a choir-like performance with a touch of divinity. Despite the E Flat Minor on “guy” in the third line of the lyrics – “with some other guy, you knew before” – which was meant to be a deliberate struggle for Marvin Gaye to personify the heartbreak (pursued by Berry Gordy), Gladys Knight executed well within those challenging vocals.
After 75 minutes, The Empress of Soul closed the Perth chapter for the final time with Midnight Train to Georgia, a track performed with the Pips in the original recording. The song won the 1974 Grammy Awards following a chart topping success on the US Billboards. After more than 50 years, Gladys is still standing by her lover, returning to Georgia with him – such was the believability of her performance. The forlorn seemed real – or it appeared that way. It may have been a Farewell Tour stretching over 15 years. Somehow, at 79 – we believe this is it for The Empress of Soul. Thanks for the memory.
Gladys Knight is performing across Australia and New Zealand in her final tour. Final tickets are available through Frontier Touring
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring and Gladys Knight for the Press Accreditation
About the Writer/Photographer: Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to cover over 80 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay, KISS, P!NK, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182 and Lizzo with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 40 artists.
