The only thing missing was a huge spinning disco ball. Apart from that, legendary Philadelphia soul band The Stylistics transformed Bristol Beacon into a 1970s nightclub with back-to-back classics from the disco days.
Celebrating 56 years as a group, there are just two original members left – baritone singers Airrion Love and Herb Murrell who both turned 75 this year. The line-up is completed by lead vocalist Jason Sharp whose falsetto voice is as fine as that of original frontman Russell Thompkins Jr.
Backed by a seven-piece band, the trio had the Bristol Beacon dancing within minutes of starting their short but sweet 75-minute set.
In the 1970s, The Stylistics were one of the biggest bands around, with a dozen Top 20 hit singles between 1971 and 1976 alone. They were on Top of The Pops countless times and their songs were ever-present at school discos and nightclubs.
At one point during the show, Airrion Love thanked the fans for sticking by them for 56 years. He joked that he’d lost count how many people had told him they had been married to one of their hits and, in some cases, how their children were conceived to the songs.
Dressed identically in shimmering red sequin blazers, black shirts and trousers and shiny patent shoes, The Stylistics looked the part, too. As well as singing in perfect harmony, Love and Murrell also moved in perfect synchronicity – dance moves they have been perfecting over 56 years.
This was as slick a performance I’ve seen and the hits poured out of the group. Sing Baby Sing was the first song to get people out of their seats and dancing, as did You Are Everything and Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart).
I’m Stone In Love With You, Betcha By Golly Wow and Let’s Put It All Together had middle-aged women – and it was a largely female crowd reliving their youth – singing every word, hands in the air like it was the 1974 school leavers’ disco all over again.
But it was the group’s best-known song, You Make Me Feel Brand New, which got the biggest response of the evening. Everybody was up for that one, singing at the top of their voices, and the party continued through to the encore of Jenny, Na-Na Is The Saddest Word and Can’t Give You Anything.
Frontman Sharp’s high falsetto voice was faultless throughout. He reached every high note and made every woman in the front row believe he was singing just for them, winking and blowing kisses. The fans loved it and it was a gig that exceeded all expectation.