Live Review: Mary J Blige

A DJ spinning music that makes us want to dance at Hamer Hall is an interesting concept mainly because we are all sitting down. Ahead of Mary J Blige, punters get a DJ set comprised of smooth, slow '90s jams that settle the crowd in the auditorium deep into their seats. It is a sedate start to the evening but at 9pm we see Blige's band sitting dutifully on the stage waiting for the diva. When Blige bursts onto the stage, she unleashes complete and utter pandemonium as fans all the way from the back of the upper circle through to the very front of the stalls seem to lose their minds. Looking mighty fine, Blige energetically struts in vertiginous heels dealing a new tune called Love Yourself from her soon-to-be-released album Strength of A Woman. Blige's powerhouse vocals just blow the crowd away. Her career may have peaked in the '90s, but delivering a massive new R&B tune that feels like a hit, Blige proves she has plenty more to offer those willing to listen.

As Blige starts to play tunes from across her career we are reminded that this soul, R&B and hip hop diva has always been a class act. Just Fine, You Bring Me Joy, Love Is All We Need, Real Love and I Can Love You offer an energetic celebration of life and the love that keeps us going. Singing up a storm, Blige shines so brilliantly that her band and mighty fine backing singers just fade into the background. Swinging from one tune to the next with very little banter, Blige maintains a brisk and lively pace. After just a few songs, Blige has the crowd eating from the palm of her hand as almost everyone in Hamer Hall is on their feet and dancing. The pace slackens with the powerful Take Me As I Am, after which Blige starts dispensing relationship advice, telling us what women really want and what men should give them.

What goes up must eventually come down. The worm turns in this apple of love and Blige, who is presently working through what sounds like a difficult divorce, starts dealing searing versions of break-up tunes. Old favourite I'm Goin' Down rubs shoulders with an infectious new R&B groove called U + Me (Love Lesson). Blige indulges in over-the-top dramatics to deal astonishing versions of Not Gon' Cry and No More Drama that really dig into the anguish of dealing with a broken relationship and heartbreak; it's not tear-jerking, just intensely heavy and compelling. These tunes are also where she really proves her worth as a vocalist, getting pretty technical on her gymnastic routine. After snapping out of it, Blige apologises for being a bit of a downer. Sweet Thing and Family Affair provide the uplift that is needed to round off the evening.