toni childs

yep - the lady herself - recording star from the late 1980's
a good friend and big fan of her first seminal album scored some tickets
she's playing at one of those big club mega-centres on the central coast
part of an australian/nz tour that sees her in lots of places like that
which may well suggest that's where her fanbase is now found
no worries - always up for some live music and so i'm in
sure enough it's a full house in the room she's playing
a large space with a stage and chairs set out in rows
no dance-floor, mosh-pit, or teenagers anywhere in sight
average age - about 55 i reckon - lots of middle-aged couples
which makes perfect sense - she was big on commercial radio 20 years ago
loved by women mostly, given due respect from music-loving men
her material and delivery nicely slightly left of centre
most striking back then was her powerful and unique voice
first tune tonight is stop your fussin' and her voice is as strong as ever
this of course has the crowd whooping it up and she embraces that
she takes the time to tell us a little about her life since fame days
graves disease knocking her down and out of the music scene
but she's back with a new album and loving it again it seems
which of course has major crowd approval and on with the show
there's a mixture of old and new in the set - all sounding solid
the band itself is an odd mixture of young local musicians
one on cello dressed to the nines and taking it very seriously
the bass-player in tracky-daks and flannel shirt and doing the job
drummer, 2 guitarists and keyboards player completing the lineup
the 6-piece band not doing anything to distract from the lady
she herself sticking with laying in the voice on the tunes
all in all it's a very pleasant musical experience to be had
though not until she gives permission to stand does it go up a level
the crowd happily on their feet and grooving away to zimbabwe
another tune from her first very successful album titled union
it's in this tune that her world music / peter gabriel connections shine
a nice african kind of groove and backing vocals from the crowd
so everyone feeling quite relaxed and enjoying this scene
this leads to demands for 2 encores from the crowd
toni childs herself seeming well chuffed with the response
all in all a successful night for all involved