Former Miss Moneypenny Caroline Bliss comperes as Q The Music bring their James Bond Concert Spectacular to Swansea Grand Theatre, and reviewer Jonathan Marshall finds a talented band, three distinct voices and a wonderful night out.
Spectators are left stirred rather than shaken as Q The Music presents a James Bond Concert Spectacular in Swansea.
The music of Bond is as synonymous with the spy franchise as 007 is with dry martinis and Aston Martins. The auditorium at Swansea Grand brims with enthusiasm as 007 fans congregate to celebrate the unmistakable soundtracks of the series.
That enthusiasm is mirrored back by the remarkably talented band, who radiate a shared love and excitement for our favourite spy and the music that has defined each era.
None more so than Warren Ringham, who oversees the operation. His passion in doing so has not wavered in the 22 years since Q The Music was born.
A rousing rendition of the James Bond Theme from 1995’s GoldenEye, complete with some galvanising guitar work, catapults us into the world of Bond. This version of the iconic theme established Pierce Brosnan as the latest incarnation following a six-year hiatus.
The company then go even bigger with arguably the most famous Bond song, from one of its most famous and acclaimed offerings: Goldfinger.
Singer Sulene Fleming impresses with her vocal prowess while commanding strong stage presence. She places her own stamp on the song, without veering towards imitating Shirley Bassey.
Matt Walker then showcases stellar vocals on Thunderball. It’s fitting that the first two songs were originally sung by Welsh singers Bassey and Tom Jones.
That Welsh connection is extended as our compere Caroline Bliss arrives on stage. The actress portrayed Miss Moneypenny in 1987’s The Living Daylights and 1989’s Licence to Kill.
Both films of course starred Welsh actor Timothy Dalton, who this reviewer would argue was ahead of his time, with his darker portrayal being closer to Ian Fleming’s original depiction.
Bliss is warm and endearing as she introduces performances while also peppering us with anecdotes from her time working with Dalton. Her inclusion enhances an already exciting evening.
Continuing with the Sean Connery era, Kerry Schultz graces the stage, slowing things down with Nancy Sinatra’s hypnotic You Only Live Twice. Fleming then returns with another big Bassey number, Diamonds Are Forever.
It’s nice that each vocalist carries a different sound, in keeping with the broad range of genres that span the soundtracks of Bond.
All Time High from 1983’s Octopussy takes us into Roger Moore’s territory. The actor offered a completely different take to Connery, with a more playful, light-hearted and somewhat camp portrayal.
For Your Eyes Only, originally performed by Sheena Easton, is followed by Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall from Spectre. Walker demonstrates impressive range as he offers a beautiful falsetto on the tough-to-sing number.
Fleming takes on Tina Turner’s GoldenEye, which was written by Bono and The Edge of U2. Schultz then leads us through the remaining Brosnan tracks with Sheryl Crow’s Tomorrow Never Dies and Garbage’s The World Is Not Enough.
The edgier sounds of the two lend themselves well to Schultz’s voice and stage swagger. Thankfully we are spared Madonna’s musical contribution, with Die Another Day notably absent from the setlist.
The instrumental On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, from the film that marked George Lazenby’s only outing as Bond, sets up the second act. John Barry’s brassy composition is a joy to hear live.
Walker then gives us his take on Louis Armstrong’s mellow We Have All the Time in the World.
Lesser-known Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a surprise feature of the evening. The song was originally intended for Thunderball and was initially recorded by Bassey and later Dionne Warwick.
The tempo rises with A-ha’s The Living Daylights and Fleming’s performance of Duran Duran’s A View to a Kill.
Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die is a crowd pleaser, while Another Way to Die, originally a duet between Jack White and Alicia Keys, works wonderfully as a rock-tinged solo.
Schultz’s Skyfall is beautifully performed, and Carly Simon’s Nobody Does It Better is dedicated to the various Bond family members who have passed away over the years.
The evening closes with another suitably big number to bookend the show, as Gladys Knight’s Licence to Kill punctuates a wonderful night out.
Bliss and the band are clearly moved by their reception, saying this is their first time performing in Swansea and that they will definitely return.
For those who missed out this time around, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to keep an eye on the Q The Music website for future dates. Whether a Bond buff or someone who simply appreciates live music, this Concert Spectacular is exactly that.
Q The Music’s James Bond Concert Spectacular, compered by Caroline Bliss, was at Swansea Grand Theatre on Saturday 19 September. Tickets for other venues are available from the company’s official website.
Discover more from Swansea Bay News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
