From the moment Belinda Carlisle pranced on stage and launched into Runaway Horses, the front rows of this sold-out gig leapt to their feet ecstatically, followed by the rest of the audience.
As Carlisle twirled about with her tambourine, happily playing hit after hit from her extensive career, it became apparent that without a stage platform to raise the performers up, the crowd had to remain standing, with many flocking to the front of the church in order to see anything – much to the security team’s consternation.
Some songs, like I Get Weak, were rather repetitive and had a few off-key notes, while the energy flagged slightly during her cover of Serge Gainsbourg’s Bonnie And Clyde, and the plaintive California.
However, the sheer uplifting joy of the audience as they sang along to eternal classics Leave A Light On, Circle In The Sand, Summer Rain and Heaven Is A Place On Earth was irrepressible.
Going back to her Go-Gos days with an encore of We Got The Beat, one fan ripped his shirt off to pogo topless with exuberant enthusiasm – and finally the church steamed up as everyone swayed together to the emotional anthem, Live Your Life Be Free.
Four stars
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