“Valentines In Vegas!!!”

 

You know that Valentine’s Week in Vegas is going to be something rather special…

 

… especially special, when, through lively conversation, you find that you are seated next to a heartwarming couple, who have been married for 35 years, called Mr and Mrs Truelove!

 

I kid you not, dear friends!

 

Yes, yours truly, was back, for the third thrilling installment in her Vegas Trilogy… returning to the Love capital of the world… only rivalled, some might say, by the romance of a Paris, at night..

 

“So, what was the story this time?” I hear you enquire…

 

Well… it was all about the Lo-o-o-o-o-ve..

… and if there is anyone who knows how to live their Purpose for just that reason, it’s Mr. Matt Goss..

 

By now, we’ve discovered how, simply exceptional, he is, both, as an Artist and, a deeply, delightful human being.

You already know about his refinement and elegance of style and substance… You also know that, whether solo, or with his immensely-talented brother, Luke, he is consistently turning doubters into, all-out believers, in the supreme gifts which have him flying high, within the Creative Arts Industry and the wider Creative Community.

 

So…

… season by season, (i.e. Thanksgiving, Christmas and now Valentine’s), I have had the distinct blessing of jetting off, into the wide blue yonder of the Vegas skyline, landing at my beloved “Mirage”, elevated to the dizzying heights of the 22nd floor and living-the-(somewhat uexpected)-dream, of all that such transatlantic back-and-forth entails, in order to chart the course and share the joy of this, eminently fascinating, performer’s artistic evolution!

From arrival-Sunday, which saw a two-tone Goss, regaling the “silver foxes” in the room, through to the following Sunday, in which his own homage to silver-grey styling, accentuated his striking blonde-haired, blue-eyed charm, my week was glazed with ever-slicker performances by the fêted “new King of Vegas”… crowned by the Valentine’s event-of-events, on that, most memorable, night-of-nights…

 

…and it was everything!!!!!

 

Sultry, sassy, super-humorous, super-glamorous… peppering the audience, with infectious geniality.. it was undeniably glossy-Gossy, at his undeniable best.

 

To me, more than I’d ever felt it, “1 OAK” was the beating pulse of Nevada…

Whether front row, or booth-bound, the room was replete with revellers who were ready for a steaming hot time…and the show was, accordingly, sizzling…

With no room to lounge in this buzzing bar, the strawberry-strewn, speakeasy space absolutely rocked to the pace of Matt’s adrenalin-fuelled style and a band which, were they any tighter, would have split their, metaphorical, musical seams!

In fact, the duration of the evening was seamless showbiz, par excellence, and we were all with him for the ride… Quite frankly, the swoon-to-croon ratio was ten thousand-a-penny and the power of expression, although effortless in groove, was pure, no-holds-barred effort, in his driving delivery.

 

With more seasoned skits and ska turns, which were te-riff-ic, the general concensus which revolved around the room as this Vegas showpiece progressed, was that this was, categorically, the most impressive that anyone had, yet, seen of Goss… Indeed, I had the privelege of engaging from many vantage points, ergo, sitting in the company of many first-timers, all, of whom, commented on just how consummate a performer Matt was… and how, clearly, he was becoming the quintessential benchmark for any type of entertainment offering, let alone a, consistently, sell-out Vegas residency…

…which is quite the most discernible thing… in that, Matt neither rests upon his laurels,  rather, curating his work, as if presenting a room of unique, sonic sketches.. Nor does he take a moment of this opportunity for granted… In fact, he frequently takes time out to share just how aware he is, of the collective support which has facilitated his sustained success… and it is always stated with touching sincerity, as truly humbling to feel, as it is genuinely received, by all who hear.

 

…And the best is yet to come…

 

… for the dedication to fashioning his vocation into one type of musical masterpiece, has dovetailed into another, destined for Broadway and West End stages, having finished a, much-anticipated, adaptation of U.K. television classic, “Upstairs, Downstairs”, in collaboration with Grammy-nominated Composer, Arranger and Producer, Stephen Endelman…

… and award nods and accolades will, undoubtedly, follow for this burgeoning Impressario, Radio Presenter, Fine Artist… not least, the celebration of the 10-year Vegas milestone, of a man who rises to every challenge in such a way, as to engender wonderment, of whether there is anything Matt Goss cannot do!

 

In the opinion of one whom has arrived to the party a wee bit later than most, but who knows a bit about the whys and wherefores of stage-life, you’d be hard–pressed to find a better example of such a wholly-committed Creative, anywhere upon the globe!

 

With that being said, it’s clear to see why everyone who joins Matt’s journey wants to stick with this first-rate fella, no matter which creative room he goes into… but it won’t be luck that sees him continue to conquer ever-greater territory, it will be unequivocal, unquestionable talent… the type which is indefatigable and endures, long after the venue lights go dark!!!

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2019. All Rights Reserved

***

 

Don’t miss Matt Goss at “The Mirage”, Las Vegas!

@TheMirageLV  ~  @MattGoss

 

Don’t miss BROS at:-

“The O2 Academy Brixton”: July 5th 2019!

@O2academybrix

 

“Live At The Marquee”, Cork: 26th June 2019!

@LATMofficial

 

“Botanic Gardens, Belfast”: 27th June 2019!

 

“A Merry, Matt Goss Christmas, at The Mirage!!”

 

New York was so good, they named it twice…

Well, friends, Vegas was so GRRRREAT, I had to visit twice!

…That, and the very, self-evident fact, that my body-clock had never reset to U.K.-time, after my first trek… So, why waste good jet-lag, and why not go back…but, this time, to see what Matt Goss Christmas shows would be like?!

Yet, something about returning was, markedly, different.

From the approach into Nevada, to the neverending, tensile outlines, as far as the eye could see, through the plane’s porthole windows, the vista of stardust streets had become a city-wide Christmas tree, immersed in such dazzling luminescence, as if the nightsky, itself, had briefly fallen into the hands of a world, awaiting an, even more, imperceptible illumination.

Touchdown, was as whisper-soft, as a prima ballerina landing a graceful, grand jeté, then gliding through to arabèsque and attitude, as if in one, poised, puff-of-an orchestral phrase… Even the, usually crowded, customs hall held a beguiling hush, with lanes, akin to an emptier Strip, which would meet-and-greet visitors, en route to our respective holiday homes…

Yes, different…

Las Vegas looked and felt different… Offering all of the multi-coloured, candy-covered distractions… yet, sweetened, with an undercurrent of a mystical mood that, seemingly, pledged to effectuate an excursion of greater artistic excellence, than first encountered…

…Intrigued and ready, was I…

…for I’d heard tell of the “Matt Goss Christmas”, as being one to showcase his undeniably impressive and expressive musical and emotional aesthetics, in tune with his penchant for debonair visual styling… say, “midnight-hued, velvet, Tom Ford suiting”… and one need say no more!

Sure enough, it was a supremely-spirited, artist, scorching the stage with refreshed and renewed ferocity, mirrored by a vibrant, razor-sharp, cherry-red, suit, who sent the 1-OAK audience into stratospheric heights, garnering rapturous and, often raucous, applause… For, having been on a deserved break, they had sorely missed he who, night, upon night, upon night, inserted the “Yeah, man”, into each and every show!

Based around the slick and stylish format which I had experienced in November, these three final nights of his highly-favoured residency, further demonstrated exactly why “Matt Goss at The Mirage” could never be considered mere “perfomance and patter”. The regulars attend to joust with his jocularity, seek out the sabre-sharp sarcasm, almost expecting him to splice the air-borne atoms with his own, “M.G.” insignia… yet, all who make their evening his, are, simultaneously, stunned by his spiritual sagacity.

When such moments occur from the vertigo and sweat-inducing heights of a salsa-infused “Sway”, this ultimate frontman stills the room with consummate ease… starting from the most precious pin-drop silence, to reveal the map of his Soul, in stirring melodic stanzas, such as “In The Wee Small Hours”, which, leaves him, breathless, resultant of the passion poured into each note, the reverence for every pause… and clearly, emotional, owing to the dedication to his deeply loved and respected, late Grandfather, Harry.

… It would have many of us weeping, in empathy and recognition of such enduring influences in our own lives…

Yes, this was noticeably distinct…

The closer to Christmas, the more standards… except, to classify them as such, would be to bear injustice to the uncanny ability of Matt Goss and his unique band, to regenerate a childlike wonder into those songs to which we hold so dearly… “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” transformed the celebratory warmth into intimate memories, sung in unison, with the wishes seeming to fly upon wings of their own, to the hearts and minds of those, light years away from the venue. His version of “The Christmas Song” was, to me, a new soul classic… in absolute keeping with the proficiency which the new “King of Vegas” holds, for singing beyond musical lines and reinventing the wheels of well-established hits, with sweet, soulsonic, virtuosity…

… and it was this which put a finer tune upon the marked distinction…

Matt Goss is a contemporary Renaissance Man…

… a poised reflection of gentlemanly, sartorial grace, with a South-East London strut!

His story-telling is swathed in meandering, heartfelt revelation, cut through with the tangy brilliance of bold banter, awash with extraordinarily shrewd asides, to make you hold your sides, yet, in a heartbeart, his wit is balanced with a profoundly perceptive wealth of wisdom.. He has the propensity to transform, not only the dynamic of a room, but the entire atmosphere, into that of the metaphysical.

For this is his Matt Goss Music Ministry, which welcomes all-comers to seek and find new ways to engage with creativity, as only he and his impeccably-talented band, can deliver…

…and I truly believe that, should you attend (and I highly recomend that you do!), in one night, you will leave more elevated, empowered, inspired and blessed, for having immersed and lost yourself, in the, entirely beautiful, moment.

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

 

Click-through to:-

See Matt Goss at The Mirage in 2019

Hear Matt Goss on BBC i-Player (“Matt Goss At Midnight”)

Interact with Matt Goss on:-

Twitter: @mattgoss  ~ Instagram: @mattgoss  ~ Facebook: @iammattgoss 

 

Support, both, Matt and Luke Goss on their amazing Bros Tour, in 2019!

Twitter: @TeamMattGoss  ~ @LukeGoss ~ @Brosreunion

~

Most importantly, enjoy being part of the awesome experience!

 

 

MATT GOSS: From Backstage To Centre Stage!

Question.

Can internet shopping reduce one to tears?

Answer.

Yes…well…very nearly!

It started at 10 a.m…

The quest of initiating the greatest baptism-of-fire, known to this human…

… Attempting to purchase tickets for soundcheck-to-performance coverage of “Matt Goss at The London Palladium”!

It continued with logging on…

… and furiously pressing buttons to try to search options, select options, select one ticket, rather than two… to refreshing the page and losing the better seat… to trying to figure out the best time to go…. to verification, to the elation of being told, in the blink of an eye (or was I, actually, blinking back the, aforementioned, tears?!) ‘You’re In!’….

Could this be what buying a house, instead of renting, in this day and age, was like? Would this be akin to saying ‘Yes‘ to a, long-awaited, wedding proposal? The sharp intake of breath before making the commitment? I looked forward to finding out… But for this morning, it certainly seemed that way!

Yet, I knew that I could not be nonchalant with this system of buying goods, nor with the fact that I was sprinting to the finish line, arm-in-arm, alongside, potentially, thousands of other ticket-hungry customers… who, in this case, were sure to be the mighty and dedicated “Matt Goss Army”, a.k.a ‘MGA’! They have their own hashtag. They are a force of the most empassioned followers, supporters and family of a public figure, whom I have ever encountered.

They have my respect!!

Sat upon the cloud of my thoughts, the sunshine reality dawned… that the deed had, indeed, been done!

The show in which Matt, himself, said he’d ‘let loose’ would have yours truly, in attendance… but for now, in anticipatory wait, like a Tour De France lead-out, until the day-of!!

The fact of the matter was that I needed to be there….

…To experience who Matt Goss was and what it is about him that reduces people to the most exuberantly, knee-quivering wrecks of their, usually put-together, selves! Furthermore, how had his artistry changed…. because the scale and reach of his creativity certainly had.

This year seemed to be the peak of his first Everest.

A build-up, which has seen him increasingly invested in an interdisciplinary mode… showcasing the expansive nature of his talent and the unlimited mindset upon which it is founded.

From ever sought-after, often sell-out, concerts, which unfurled the newly-crowned “King of Vegas”, to hugely popular radio broadcasts for the BBC, Matt Goss and his undeniably suave onstage persona, has been thriving… Hard work keeps paying off… and the investment has segued into festivals, films and musicals… All in celebration of his comprehensive reinvention and determination to never surrender the Dream… to do more, be more, share more… which makes utter sense, for a man who describes ‘prolific’ as his current music-making status… Having, now, seen the evidence, in up-close-and-personal manner, I am, even more, in agreement.

You see, in my life, I have always been an observer… and yet, a doer, in order to articulate a core message, especially when it is Creatively called-for.. Whether Writing, Acting, Painting, Modelling, Movement… once it serves the deepest notion of the piece, I’ll go there. True-to-form, I watch closely, backstage, as Goss meets and greets his adoring MGA, with gentlemanly grace and a large dose of South-East London banter! Even in soundcheck, he is, not only, scintillating, but also engages with each song, in the authentic passion of the moment. No dilution. No dialling-it-in. His energy is focused and his aim is true – to reach out and touch the hearts of those around him… Audience, band members or backstage crew.

It is refreshing, as it is inspiring.

He is old-school… and that isn’t a generic throwaway, due to his often Rat-Pack compared, Vegas incarnation. You feel he has been raised-up around a sensibility of another age and, though he is older, he has never departed from it… The swagger, swing and sway are him… He is that immaculate. His tuxedoed vogue, reflects it… With that being said, he’s more than a little bit new school, too, and is just as at home, in looks of a more casual air, hence the black, unbuttoned shirt and sequinned-trouser combo, worn with effortless modernity and tatooed edge, for the show..

… which was an absolute show-stopper from start to finish!!!

Supported by the superb NHS Choir (in veritable homage to his literal roots, having been born in Lewisham Hospital), the undertone was specified, that, no matter how raucous the night, at the foundation and throughout the ensuing hours, would flow a deeper, conjoining spirituality.

I’d never been a part of anything like it!!!

For all of the 30 years celebrated within the Recording Arts industry, what I witnessed was a man, unbound and unbridled, onstage… For Matt Goss doesn’t simply display his craft, he communicates an undeniable freedom, indicative of an artist who is thriving upon expressing the greater awareness of all he has come to do upon this planet. You sense that he isn’t trying to justify his ability, but revelling in this new phase of creative prowess… and how we all benefitted from this unleashed emotion.

It’s not that he doesn’t care… because he, undoubtedly, does, with every fibre of his being… It is that he is free of care!!

Throughout the set, which moved relentlessly through Vegas stylings of “Luck Be A Lady” and “Hotel California”, pinballing from decade-spanning hit after hit, including “I Owe You Nothing” and “Firefly”, and raising the roof with the on-trend, 2018 summer smash “Red Flares”, he brought the house down with the tear-jerking “Are You Mine” and sing-along-inducing “Just For A Change”, in which the community of Matt’s family-of-fans truly shone. Led by the maestro to follow his lead, the MGA chorus filled the Palladium with stirring pride and searing passion… reflecting back all that he and his incredible band had given. For me, it was just the most beautifully moving, “you-had-to-be-there“, moment…

In fact, the entire night was a fantastic and unforgettable voyage…

I came, bearing gifts, but got so much more, in return…

On one level, was a distillation of profound acknowledgment, that there need be no limit to ambition… Yes, Matt loves what he does and who he is… as do so many others… and, to my mind, he has every right to do so. In diversifying upon his path, the articulation of each strand to his creative bow seems to bring deeper satisfaction and his generosity, humility-of-spirit, vulnerability and strength, in the giving of them, facilitates the same in others.

Yet, this experience took me to another level, because I was blessed to be amongst the constellation of fans, in his amazing, Gossy sky, and the jet-lag I felt, on returning home, was indicative of the fact that, for one night, I had been transported to another cosmos, of an incredibly rare and unrivalled atmosphere…

…Here’s hoping he comes back soon, because I, for one, look forward, excitedly, to making a return visit…

…and, just for the record, Matt Goss is back…

but he is moving rapidly forward on his Artistic Mission and, to those who have been with him throughout his ups, downs and turning points, (some of whom I had the distinct privelege to also meet and greet), and his newfound appreciators, he never has been, nor is he ever going, away….

 

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

Matt Goss: “Red Flares” (Preview)

Ladies and Gentlemen…

… Matt Goss is back and he’s kickin’ brand new flava in ya ear!

Alright, so, he’s already been back but, stay with me, because, after an interlude, (indicative of his meticulous attention-to-detail), the eagerly-awaited single, “Red Flares” is a-go, for iTunes pre-order, from today, and full release, this Friday!

From this morning’s teaser, “Red Flares” is hallmark ‘Gossy’, with all of his trademark creative flair… think, lyrically-driven and hook-laden, with a lush topline melody and deliciously tight-knit harmonies, which we have come to know, love, expect and respect…

However, in fashioning the dreamily aspirational Palms Studios production against a backdrop of R&B, we can hear that Matt has taken a slick and studied, successful sidestep away from the “tattoos and tuxedoes” facet of his extensive musical repertoire…rather, melting into open-necked Hawaiian shirts and snazzy snapbacks!

Married to the metaphoric ‘love S-O-S’, are surface hi-hats, skipping as lightly as a stone along the river of a driving bass, the sonic resonance, of which, is mirrored-to-perfection, by the conviction with which Matt delivers his message and will, surely, distinguish this summertime offering from other releases.

That said, “Red Flares” is a definitive, smooth gift-of-a-groove, for the morning, night and afternoon, destined for sing-a-long radio airplay, chilling in the club or up-close-and-personal, slow-dancing in the living room… You name it, this organic, Pop-R&B hybrid, (pre-cursor to an ace-of-an-upcoming album), is a cross-genre track that dares to, and does, have it all, and I defy you not to be lured into its brilliance, either, before the day is out, or the pre-order made, and this impressive soundtrack-of-the-summer is downloaded or despatched, straight to you!

 

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved

~

Click through to pre-order the sizzling new Matt Goss single, “Red Flares”, on iTunes now!

 

The Goss-pel According To Matt…

The night was shivering.

Even the rain was tapping the windowpane in submission. In search of compassion.

A door opened to a vocal undulation, warm enough to steam-press away the wrinkles of the day.

In response, followed a love-letter to sound, dotting the i’s of vocal and creative intention and inflection, whilst crossing the t’s of technique, tears, Truth.

Curled up at the foot of the laptop, I was content to become one with an imminent musical selection from Matt Goss, which I knew would cruise like a beguiling, classic Bentley… celebrating a songbook which I knew would shine like a city on a hill and beam like a lighthouse to articulate an emotive signpost.

I was justified to believe in my heightening expectations as, from Lewisham to Las Vegas, Ratpack to Rock, in excess of two memorable hours were to change through crooning gears of such greats as Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Kay Starr, Perry Como, Dinah Washington, Harry Connick Jr, Billie Holliday… and ever-onward.

The genius of this, the second Christmas compilation selected by Goss for “his favourite station in the world” of BBC Radio 2, would be the deftly-navigated hairpin turns visited by back-to-back features, allowing for revelatory anecdotes, with profound and courageous destinations of sentiment.

Winding along the, oft, searing side-roads of Donny Hathaway’s angst-infused renderings in ‘Song For You’, served to expand significant apertures into Matt’s life… The self-penned triumph of ‘Mustang’, with lavish strings and Sting’s ubiquitous hit, ‘Englishman In New York’ concisely charted the course of erstwhile love and the acute loneliness of feeling like a small fish in a big pond, respectively… Yet, it is with respect to following the poignant pathways of Roberta Flack’s ‘Killing Me Softly’, which led to the most painful revelation… that of it being played at the funeral of his beloved Mother, Carol.

Such intensely personal moments unified Matt, the presenter and we, the listeners, with experiences, swooping and spiralling into our collective soul. However, just before sorrow had the occasion to settle, rather than move through the experiential labyrinth, we were expertly manoeuvred into the surreal and mesmeric sounds of ‘White Room’ by rock triumvirate, ‘Cream’, dedicated to his Father. We were to be further uplifted by, yet more, divine back-to-back explorations via his mentor, the perennially-masterful, Stevie Wonder, to whom he attributed the extraordinary “ability to take words and describe a complete movie…” How wonderful it was to be wrapped up by the perfect pop-of-sound delivered in ‘What Christmas Means To Me’, whilst being encouraged to indulge in ‘Love’s In Need Of Love Today’, “…a song… seven minutes and six seconds long… [which is] a luxury that most musicians don’t have anymore”…

In a touching tribute to George Michael, “a generous man, a loving man [who] was blessed to be a great songwriter” and “a massive influence” on Goss, ‘Jesus To A Child’ would symbolize an unexpected first-hand flashback for me, to cool December days and eves, living in Northern France. Reflective of the New York recollection, I, too, was very much aware of being away from my precious London but, equally, as excited to be on a new adventure, breaking new ground in the unfurling story of my life.

“Tapestry-of-life kind of legends” whisked me back to the present…

I found it to be a particularly charming example of the song-writing eloquence with which to describe the collaboration between David Bowie and Bing Crosby, from he who has been donned ”The New King of Vegas”*! Matt is, of course, entirely correct in such a description of the delightfully unique pairing and was absolutely inspired in the placement of ‘Peace On Earth/ Little Drummer Boy’ after the sumptuous ‘Favourite Things’, as stylishly performed by Tony Bennett, accompanied by deluxe orchestration which hopped and skipped like stones across a sinuous river, glistening in setting sunlight.

As if this most delectable chocolate box of treats could not get any better, the melodic trip through time signatures and tales was brought to a momentous resolution with Otis Redding’s version of ‘White Christmas’, an absolute classic which, to me, has always been an ultimate solid-gold soul gem, deliciously transposed through the dynamic medium of Redding’s agonisingly mellifluous vocal chords…

Quite possibly my favourite thing of the entire broadcast was, in fact, the spirit in which it was transmitted. Matt, not only, rolled out the Christmas red carpet with a cadence of class, but captured the imagination by metaphorically embracing emotion with sentimental croons, themselves, harmoniously aligned with concept tunes. Wholeheartedly-expressed through the viewfinder of family and underpinned by love, his was the festive gift that kept on giving, which saw us all sublimely into the wee small hours of the most wonderful day of the year…

***

©A_F_R_O_W2018-2019. All Rights Reserved.

~

”Matt Goss Until Midnight” on BBC Radio 2 is available online, for the next 18 days at:-   http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09jqgtm

~

All quotes from “Matt Goss Until Midnight”, BBC Radio 2, 24/12/2017 except ‘New King of Vegas’* which is from MGM Resorts.

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An Evening At The Mirage:-

Click through for ticket availability and further details, regarding the amazing Matt Goss Residency at 1OAK!

~

Social Media

@mattgoss ~ @TeamMattGoss ~ @MattGossMusic ~ @TheMirageLV ~ @1OAKLV

MGM Resorts ~ iammattgoss (Facebook) 

 

 

 

‘Brosette-For-A-Day: “A Beautifully Reciprocal Experience”…’

I wasn’t actually meant to be there…

I had a lot of thinking to do… Pontification, which had started over blueberry pancakes drenched with butter and maple syrup, at the superb Mondrian Hotel… Having mentally put my world to rights as succinctly as possible, I followed my feet back towards the Southbank, via Upper Ground… Overhead, clotted cream clouds were dispersed across a carpet of sky, quickly diffused by a determined sun… Immediately ahead, a sizeable crowd had been stealthily amassing… Curious, to ascertain the significance of the mélange between point-and-press ‘paps’ and an ever-increasing congregation of enthusiastic individuals, I began my quest to answer the next question within my mind-palace… What was all of the buzz about?

‘We thought you were making fun of us’…

…came the reply to my inquisitive mood… ‘A lot of people wonder why, after 30 years we still come’… Well, the answer would soon become apparent, when the object of such devotion came into view… Both Matt and Luke Goss had exited the building and were about to conduct an impromptu meet-and-greet session. I learnt that they had just been on ‘This Morning with Ruth and Eamonn’, sharing the news of their upcoming reunion and were now about to share the love with their family of fans.

I observed.

This was, by no means, idolatry… This was genuine continuity of care. A constant, in a consistently impressive set of emotionally-literate calling-cards, for two of the most revered artist/ musicians in the business… and no wonder why…

They might have been behind a low barrier, but the energy exuding from the brothers vaulted way beyond any metal obstruction. As, one after another, the expectant supporters made their way into the arms of a bear-hug from Matt or the soothing voice of Luke, confirming, with absolute, heartfelt conviction that, he, indeed, remembered one particular lady and her Father from their youth, I soon became an immovable force! Not even the fact that I was without a coat, in an intermittently windy sleeve of street would have shaken me from my spot… shivers-and-all!

I was mesmerised.

Ensconced within a bubble of quiet hysteria, years were being rolled back, as memories were offered in each rencontre. Whether it was standing outside of ‘the Bros house’ and being brought cups of tea by their dear, late Mother, Carol… to the never-ending search for bottle-top footwear accessories, the interiors of this room within the memory-palace were layered with a profound sense of colourful camaraderie and touching bonds of lifelong friendship.

I was deeply moved. A smile regularly touched my face, as all around, I witnessed the groundswell of butterfly-inducing anticipation spill over, into undulations of audible excitement. The dream had come true!! A long-anticipated reunion tour, in commemoration of an exhilerating past, a glittering present and a stadium experience which would throw down an emphatic gauntlet, to a creatively adventurous future.

Suddenly, smile still plastered over my visage, an unexpected event occurred. An existential eye-line appeared and it was my turn to get the attention of Matt Goss, himself. Inwardly perplexed, since I had been more concerned that those with whom I had conversed earlier got their precious moments, I was further intrigued to see that he had worn a natty bandana and I was sporting a Hawes and Curtis dress shirt, with a Tiffany & Co. necktie, so, in for a penny (as my late Dad used to say!), I inquired as to whether a swap might be in order! So… that didn’t happen, but I heard a few sharp intakes of breath, as if, perhaps, that might have been a, somewhat, cheeky request…

I believe he was amused!

I certainly experienced my grin expand into a laugh, accompanied by a hearty giggle and, before I knew it, we were face-à-face! What was a girl to do, but offer ‘les bises’ and a handshake… Except that, by now, my body temperature, having decreased yet further, manifested an ice-cold hand, which really was shaking! Never was the reciprocated warmth more appreciated… Never before had it felt as if a verbal exchange hovered above… and, my goodness, if a spiritual exchange didn’t wrap itself around this portal of time like the ultimate duvet, then I know not how to account for the most intense stillness and mystifying sense of breathing pure air…. especially in a London atmosphere which has major exhaust-emission issues!

Then. It. Clicked.

The authenticity of these men… the depth of gratitude to this fan-family for, not only putting them in the record books, but keeping them there, so as to be front-and-centre for another inspiring tour, formulated a potent mix, which extended time in a profound way. Evidently, the highly-impressive performances, of their hit-filled back catalogue, ebbing and flowing with up-to-the-minute exclusives, were the timely conclusion and commencement to an ever-greater season of prolific, combined creativity.

According to Matt, ‘Civility Costs Nothing’. Lyrics in his powerful track ‘Strong’ ring out, ‘Kindness Is King’ and I believe that the combined humility, faith and love of the brothers who were born on (what would become) ‘National Heart Day’, will see Bros move to new industry heights… Prepare for Matt and Luke Goss to scale the mountains of film, fashion and, undoubtedly, make continued musical breakthroughs…

You never know… I might just try and source some bottle-tops for m’self… Though, I do, rather look forward to working them with my Louboutins!!!

~

 

©AFROW2017-2019. All Rights Reserved.

 

Bros ‘Push’ platinum reunion to a higher level!

It may, or may not have escaped your notice, but, I love to write!

Be it poetry, prose, press release… news, reviews, interviews, I get the greatest kick from spreading the positive word!

So, it gives me particular pleasure to share the good news with you that super-band, ‘Bros’  is back!

Amidst a whirlwind of press, brothers, Matt and Luke Goss announced their reunion tour, headlining two O2 Arena concerts (the second, of which, had to be added due to extraordinary demand), commencing on August 19th 2017. If the date looks familiar, it’s because it falls exactly 28 years to the day of the final Wembley performance on their landmark global tour, on August 19th 1989! (For the numerologists out there, they’ve also played the venue 19 times…go figure!)…

As per Bros tradition, the intel gave rise to a socialmedia frenzy, akin to the good old days of 80’s Brosmania….For two weeks, a flurry of hot-off-the-press, hard copy reports rallied with their online partners, with televisual appearances being skilfully served, alongside audio aces…each revealing, in greater detail, an event series, promising to go beyond a show, into a fully-fledged, feel-good, multiplatform experience of the heightened, holistic kind.

Taking things ‘over-the-top’ is quite in keeping with their honed creative skills. Let’s not forget that the boys from Bros have become men, with super-succesful careers, respectively. With Matt, the newly-crowned King of Vegas and Luke, a much-feted Hollywood actor, we should expect them to go big, as they pay homage to the past, reflect the present with relish and project the future boldly! Expect, too, the unexpected, in a contemporary twist on presentation which will, not only, be an authentic representation of the very best these two highly-creative minds can dream up when they become one, but will also honour their entire journey…and then some!

The cynics may say that reunion tours are a mere money-spinning exercise…A play on memorabilia…But I choose to spin that theory right around and say that, clearly, the money is a mere by-product of the blood, sweat and tears going into a production of such magnitude, which this will be! Luke’s hands are already the proof of the first, due to intense drum practice…now that’s real talk!

Yes, I’m all for riding the wave of nostalgia… All for the universal cry of unadulterated joy erupting, when devoted Brosettes, now, themselves adults, relive their youth, with fellow fans who have become firm friends, as well as family, alike… In fact, the experiential artist within me would love to see an exhibition à la the super-impressive ‘Return of The Rudeboy’ at Somerset House, or the more recent triumph of The Jam’s inspiring retrospective, ‘About The Young Idea’. (The latter was another family affair, in that it was curated by (lead) Paul Weller’s sister, Nicky). Cooler, still, would be to install it at the O2’s exhibition space, or another South London gallery (quite possibly the ‘South London Gallery’, on Peckham Road) or even the ‘Lewisham Arthouse’, in reference to their tender beginnings in the area. Whatever the final format, the prospect of a Brotherhood mirrored by a Sisterhood, united in sharing such beautiful memories and making new ones, in UK stadia, is totally tantalising!

That said, if status of ticket availability is anything to go by, then this will be an entire sell-out! As if being the youngest band ever to play Wembley wasn’t enough, the Brosmania has continued the trend, by doing so for the first night, in the fastest time, ever in (promoter) LiveNationUK’s history, of 7 seconds, flat!* Yes, SEVEN!! So I urge you… get on the case and do not miss out on this tour…and whilst you get your golden tickets, please spare a thought for me, head-in-Dictionary and Thesaurus, in search of synonyms, superlatives and adjectives, in order to do justice to this epic event…which, incidentally, is bound to go way beyond the words which I already love so much..

For now though, a hugely, exuberant, celebration of life, in an amazingly popular band, is a pretty fine place to start!

©A_F_R_O_W2016-2019 All Rights Reserved

~

Tickets/ Tour Dates: Live Nation  ~ The O2 Arena

Twitter: @BrosBandUK ~ Instagram: Bros_Band ~ Facebook: Bros_Band ~ Website: Bros

  Merchandise: Bros Official Merchandise

 South London Gallery ~ Lewisham Arthouse

*Source: (Twitter) @LiveNationUK

MATT GOSS: ‘GONE TOO LONG’…

There’s nothing like being in a recording studio.

Nothing like being faced with a mixing desk of many colours, ready and waiting to articulate the shades of life experience.

Whether decked out with lo-fi computer, turntables and a microphone, or the latest wall-of-sound set-up, being super-surrounded by a cocoon of creative possibility, anticipating the unique heart-mind-soul-technology reunion, emerging from that musical womb, is spine-tinglingly special.

I recently meandered down the lane of my sentimental studio-time recollections, whilst becoming reacquainted with the musical time-bank of Mr Matt Goss, who (seemingly a lifetime ago), courageously took the first, post-Bros step upon that proverbial thousand-mile journey, ending up across-the-pond.

As my solo listening-party took the scenic route from the pop-ode-to-ambition of ‘When Will I Be Famous?’ to the poignantly tender ‘Cat Amongst The Pigeons’, early indications were screamingly obvious as to the ever-increasingly creative potential and power to metaphorically encapsulate into 3-minute offerings, the dramatic vignettes of the everyday. Matt Goss’s continued metamorphosis from boy-to-man, a true grafter, navigating though joy and pain, has seen him honed into quite the multi-talented artisan, fulfilling all of his evident, early promise.

Traversing his life-path, both in real-time, and in multi-media formats, has seen the conception and delivery of projects via a myriad artistic outlets, including children’s author, autobiographer, poet and, of course, musician. In fact, his latest solo offering, has just come hot-off-the-presses, after his finishing at the crest of a 7½ year residency at Caesar’s Palace (with endless plaudits and ‘Icon Award’ in-hand), and seen him returning to our shores, to play a packed-out Wembley SSE Arena!

No less arresting than records from his extensive back catalogue, the intriguingly titled ‘Gone Too Long’ masterfully distils the loneliness of, simply, occupying the same space as the one you love and the insidious agony of acknowledging a certain coldness, where once was depth and warmth. Against a lulling backdrop of gentle piano, layers of atmospheric choral lines are awash with swathes of violins and stabbing pizzicato, plucking at the heartstrings, as the soulfully melancholic melody reiterates the refrain that ‘we should hold each other tonight…it’s not too late’.* As if peeling off a plaster from a wound that has yet to heal, the haunting echo of a spoken vocal, underpinned by a military drum-break, cuts through the false sense of emotional security, seamlessly overlaid by the ebbing and flowing of musical patterns, keeping the track entirely contemporary and tantalisingly Bond-like. Cue the monochromatic visual treatment (with the emotive performance akin to an indie film-short), also produced and directed by Goss, which compellingly mirrors the diminution of passion, into a world of stark desolation, through the modernity of clipped hip-hop choreography. Add to that some ultra-slick styling, spanning Hollywood glamour to present-day swagger, and you have a truly impressive production.

In Matt Goss, himself, you have an artist with the acute emotional literacy and attention-to-detail to access ‘the moment’, define it with clarity and intention, and deliver the epiphany of lessons learnt. Without becoming stuck or weighed down by the past, he boldly surrenders to the truth which is resident at the seat of the soul and openly encourages the listener to, not only, share in the experience, but re–create it in his/her own voice, whether of the internal, ‘thinking’, kind, or of the externally audible. In this way, his impact reaches far beyond the mere action of downloading or uploading.

I’ve found that to appreciate his present sound within the context of reprising the past, has been an expedient reminder that compassion, humility and civility run through Goss’s lifeblood. His entire body of work defies time and will continue to do so, simply because of the profoundly innate connection he has with that which emanates as his true treasure….music.

Whilst nothing happens before the time, I rather look forward to further examples of his unlimited giftings (an anthology of lyrics/ poetry would be wonderful!) because Matt Goss has certainly filled the outline of my heart with the purity of love of the craft residing within his and I have no doubt that ‘Gone Too Long’ will do the same for fellow heartfelt, hopeful romantics everywhere!

Enjoy!xxx

© @A_F_R_O_W2016-2019 All Rights Reserved

~

The new single ‘GONE TOO LONG’ by Matt Goss is OUT NOW!

See the video and buy the amazing track at: www.mattgoss.la

*Lyrics ©MattGoss2016 All Rights Reserved

Twitter: @mattgoss ~ Facebook: iammattgoss ~ Soundcloud: Matt Goss Music