Gig Reviews

BBC Tees reviewer Lucy Hingley.

Sophie B Hawkins is one of those artists who you don't realise is responsible for a number of well known songs.

When I mention songs like ‘As I lay me down’ and ‘Dam wish I was your lover’, I hear you all go ‘ahhh, I know those, is they by her? No way!’

The original all American girl arrived at the Georgian Theatre, to a devout following of individuals who clearly adore her wild, feministic, sexually fuelled presentation of music.

Sophie’s performance was that of an all rounder, her vocal range and power is complemented perfectly by a larger than life image, exuberating energy and sexual femininity. 

Although the crowd where perhaps a little stiff at first they soon became more relaxed as Sophie voyaged deeper into her collective archive of music.

Belting out a number of tracks from her new album Wilderness, including 'Beautiful Girl', a track that has caught the ear of numerous producers and has been given the remix treatment.

Her own interpretation of Nina Simone's 'Feelin' good’ worked well, and to the crowds delight, a faultless rendition of ‘As I Lay Me Down’ is followed by several up beat, drum fuelled tracks and an extremely excitable Sophie, spending the remainder of one track laid horizontally on the floor singing to the roof – leading the rest of us to wonder what was actually up there!

To draw to a close she finishes with a funked up version of ‘Damn, Wish I Was Your Lover’, if the crowd weren’t moving at first, they where now.

Although, at times Sophie did go a little bit ‘Shania Twain’ for my liking (and what’s wrong with Shania?, I hear some of you murmur), this was an excellent end to what was a very entertaining gig.