The Ram Jam Club – July 2011
The Thelma and Louise of rock ‘n’ roll, Nikki Lamborn and Catherine (Been) Feeney, rocked the house at Ram Jam Club, Kingston – featuring a collection of Aretha Franklin songs as well as their own individual material.
Having supported the likes of Alice Cooper and ZZ Top, they certainly know what stage persona is all about. Arriving at the venue in their trademark knee-length boots, the formidable blondes chatted happily among their many fans, interspersed with their wicked sense of humor.
As soon as they took to the stage they received an immediate reaction from the crowd and were treated like old friends and when Nikki opens her mouth to sing, her voice reverberates commanding attention. Having won major critical acclaim she been compared to the late Janis Joplin by none other than Roger Daltrey himself.
The women were also happy to take a backseat while showcasing the special talent of Mary at Midnight, with her beautiful and soulful voice.
But the big number of the first half was, of course, their original version of ‘The Living Tree.’ It was the song that gave Dame Shirley Bassey a popular return to the charts after they left a note and cd for her saying ‘please record this.’ The song never fails to affect me every time I listen to it and a piece of glittering, cascading solo keyboard from Been, added to the emotion felt in the room.
The simple decor and welcoming venue added to the cosy atmosphere of the occasion, with us fans of all ages being treated to a truly special evening. With little in the way of onstage gadgetry to add as a distraction, Never The Bride let themselves and their songs do the talking.
The second half was dedicated to Aretha numbers which we could all join in with. Talented singer Oscar Musat dueted with Nikki on Aretha and George Michael’s ‘I Knew You Were Waiting’ which brought the house down. Oscar has remained somewhat under the radar in the music industry, but with a sound emanating like that, it could be that his time is about to come.
The night finished with their big ballad ‘ Language Of Love’, a powerful and touching song, which ended the act pretty much perfectly. These amazing women are still fresh and full of energy and a delight to hear. The gig was simple in its format but thanks to remarkable musicianship, Been’s composing skills and Nikki’s phenomenal voice, it turned out to be yet another triumph, which makes Never The Bride so unique.
By A J Allen, from She-Nanigans
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