Q The Music: James Bond Concert SpectacularRating: ★★★★
Venue: Indigo at the 02, London
Cast: David Zaritsky, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Kerry Schultz and Matt Walker
Hosted by The Bond Experience’s David Zaritsky, Q The Music’s “James Bond Concert Spectacular” returns to indigo at The O2 this October with special guests Maud Adams and Britt Ekland from The Man With The Golden Gun.
Q The Music are known as the world’s finest and most critically acclaimed tribute to the music of Bond. As the pioneering Bond concert, they have been known for more than 20 years for stirring emotional and adrenaline-fueled performances, mixed with superb musicianship and flair.
The James Bond franchise has a been a fan favourite for decades now, with zero signs of slowing down any time soon. Q The Music are a tribute act and band that's solely dedicated to the music of James Bond. While the show has been touring all over the UK this year, last night marked for a triple celebration at London's Indigo at the 02. 60 years of Goldfinger, 50 years of The Man With the Golden Gun and 25 years of The World is Not Enough.
The evening was hosted by well-known James Bond personality, David Zaritsky and saw appearances from stars of The Man With the Golden Gun, Britt Ekland and Maud Adams. I'd describe myself as a casual fan of the James Bond films, but a huge lover of the timeless music the franchise seems to offer decade after decade.
With a full orchestra onstage and a venue that's used mainly for concerts, the space had the perfect acoustics with the sound reaching every corner of the room loud and clear. While the show consisted of many beloved songs, both old and new, there was also some lesser known music from the franchise sporadically throughout the evening, which worked perfectly for the more well-seasoned Bond fans. From Diamonds Are Forever, to A View to a Kill, The Spy Who Loved Me and Skyfall - every era and Bond was celebrated.
While not much could be faulted with the orchestra or vocalists, with absolute certainty the last hour or so of the concert was the standout. In what was described as the "rock and roll" segment of the evening, it included hits such as Live and Let Die, Backseat Driver and You Know My Name; crescendoing with Licence to Kill and Surrender (Tomorrow Never Dies). The shift in the audience dynamic was palpable and it felt as though the first time the audience came alive.
Kerry Schultz and Matt Walker were our vocalists for the evening and certainly provided vocals worthy of the West End; particularly Schultz who had the audience in the palm of her hand from the very first note. However, with the show being three and a half hours long, it's a lot for just two vocalists to sing. It felt as though an extra singer or two to sing the more contemporary numbers, such as Sam Smith and Billie Eilish would be a great addition. A mention must also go to the guitarist, Dan Booth, who shone on stage so brightly throughout the entirety of the evening.
I understand the choice of Zaritsky as our compere for the evening but he didn't seem to connect with the audience or guests, and it felt a bit stilted at times; particularly with Ekland and Adams. However, our beloved Bond women came across wonderfully and I particularly liked Ekland's interaction with the audience. She mentioned how she would be a "nobody" without the love and support from the Bond community and Zaritsky responded with a very sincere, "you'll always be a somebody to Bond fans", which was a beautiful moment to witness. Hearing Ekland and Adams talk about the evolution of the "Bond girl" and their evolution into independent, strong "Bond women" was also a highlight.
The audience was widely varied in age, with many choosing to dress in tuxedos and attire worthy of a Bond woman herself. It felt like a community, rather than the atmosphere of a standard concert. With engaging stories, iconic special guests and showstopping music and vocals, it was certainly an evening to remember.
You can find about more about Q the Music Show, here.
**photo credit: Elly Russell**
.jpg)
.jpg)
No comments