Royal Festival Hall,
London Dave Stewart’s army of guests, including Meltdown host Nile Rodgers, remind the audience how potent his partnership with Annie Lennox was – and leaves them wishing for a reunion
A Eurythmics reunion is high on the wishlist of anyone who loved pop in the 1980s, but despite reconvening for occasional promotional activity, most recently when their albums were reissued last year, the duo have not toured since 1999. That’s not for lack of guitarist Dave Stewart wanting to have one more go, but until singer Annie Lennox agrees, events like this – staged for Nile Rodgers’s Meltdown week – will have to suffice.
Fronted by Stewart, Eurythmics Songbook is a freewheeling evening of
music, reminiscence and – given the participation of his offspring Django and Kaya – family ties. There’s a warm preamble from close friend Rodgers, who recounts his delight at discovering that the 66-year-old Stewart is his elder by 10 days (needless to say, Rodgers will pop up later, accompanied by Chic vocalists Kimberly Davis and Folami, to help out on a couple of songs). Musicians then amble on in twos and threes until no fewer than 34 people, including the London Community Gospel Choir, are jostling for space. (Notably, gender parity is achieved and then some, with women comprising well over half the musicians – and special mention must go to the remarkable harmonica player Indiara Sfair.) Stewart, in a three-piece suit and snappy hat, wanders the stage – not so much ringmaster as roving cast member – and guest vocalists come and go.