The Reflections at The Halfway House Barnes - again.

The

Reflections

Oh, that’s no good. It’s just not right.

I went to The Halfway House in Barnes because it’s just one month since The Reflections last appeared there and they were back again – public demand.

I’d planned to do a really in depth review this time; photos, a set list and some helpful tips and comments on each number.

I was nicely set up with a clipboard, a sound meter, my protractor set and some nice new pens as well.

Then this happened;

And then this;

 

And while I was standing quietly at the back of the crowd observing, my friend dragged me on the dance floor.

It’s not right; I’m weak– I’ve got a condition.

 

I was lucky, these poor people on the back row were forced to stand on their chairs;

 

The Reflections have chosen to play all the great Soul classics of the 1960’s but this isn’t pub singing.

No club singers here.

No tired, shortcutting vocals. Karaoke it ain’t.

It’s that really great sound; the hard ,tight vocals of Detroit 1965. Clipped and economical, the sound of young, black America.

It’s the sound of Soul.

Rehearsed.

The business.

The Reflections

I’ve nothing against The Halfway House but you aren’t going to be seeing this band there much longer – there are bigger venues crying out for this and the word is getting out.

Me?

I was at the far side which is why the photos aren’t any good. Or maybe it’s because my camera was bobbing up and down at about 120 bpm – Northern Soul time.

Certainly, around me was a definite Soulboy contingent. Where else would I want to be?

Still haven’t found those white sox.

Click on any picture for a slideshow.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Reflections at The Halfway House, Barnes.

jThe

Reflections

Oh that was good – just about the best Wednesday night you can have. So good it means I’m late with my Blog.

Where did I go?

MOTOWNdetroit

That’s where.

Cut open a mod and what do you find?

Soul, that’s what.

I went off to see The Reflections at The Halfway House in Barnes – that’s an 8 piece band playing the very best of Motown and a just little Northern Soul. Here’s most of them, packed into the smallest space possible right at the start of the evening before it all kicked off.

 

 

After that, I'm afraid, there was some dancing.

I have only the haziest recollection of what they played but I know I heard Otis Redding, Diana Ross, little Stevie Wonder and much, much more;

There was ‘Heatwave’ from Martha and the Vandelas, there was ‘Dancing in the Streets’, and there was Gloria Jones with ‘Tainted Love’ –that’s the Northern Soul favourite.

How about ‘Take me to the river’?

Oh dear, I’m swaying again. There was ‘Baby Love’, 'Jimmy Mack', 'Needle in a haystack' and then ‘On the Floor’ – another Northern Soul favourite.

When you are crazy enough to put together 8 musicians it’s never going to be about the money – it’s all about the soul. There was Drums and percussion, keyboards, Bass and lead guitar.

Then how about these three great vocalists;

 

I’ve seen Pippa in the middle and Sandy nearest the camera because I watched them guest with the mod band ‘Lord John’ back in February and they are the reason I had to make it up to Barnes tonight. Stephan is at the far end.

Each one of these three big voices took it in turns covering some of the soul classics, with the backing of the other two.

It all added up to a great night in a very small pub – this is a young band that’s crying out for a large hall and the dance floor to go with it. I don’t think it will be long before they get there either.

And then I just had to sneak a photo of those boots from one of the dancers – aren’t they great?

 

About four inches of attitude, I’d say.

Now where did I put my white sox?

J

HITSVILLE U.S.A.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com