There are few things that can be guaranteed in life, but a large audience at a King Pleasure concert is usually one of them – and the six piece ensemble played to a packed house when they appeared at Lichfield Guildhall.
With their bright blue suits, slick musicianship and easy stage manner they played a set of feel-good jump jive classics, which featured a full brass section, and some fine, genre defining solos on keyboards and guitar.
The ensemble of lead vocalist and saxophonist King Pleasure, guitarist Bulmoose K Shirley, drummer Gary Barber, pianist Matt Foundling and group clown, bassist Shark Von Schtoop, played music that as well as having a feel good party vibe, was also extremely well played.
Behind the good time façade, the six piece is a very sharp and tight ensemble with a full sound. Their set ranged from the opening driving rhythms of Ginhouse Boogie, which featured some fine keyboard, while the early pop of Wishing, Hoping had a toe-tapping beat.
The classic rock ‘n’ roll number Shake, Rattle and Roll was well received, before the long instrumental of The Popular Blues gave all six members a chance to show their musical pedigree.
The ever popular sax-fuelled Tequilla had some of the crowd on their feet, while Back to Birmingham – which closed the second half – was a brassy, heavy stomp that featured exciting solo and a heavy beat.
The Christmas songs that filled the encore sent the large audience out into the cold December night happy with their lot.