ShareFrankie Valli And The Four Seasons performing their Greatest Hits Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Wednesday 29th June 2022.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
The absolute legend that is Frankie Valli is touring for the last time and he stopped off at the Motorpoint Arena on Wednesday night. The 88 year old New Jersey singer delivered a two hour show containing two dozen songs, many of them standards, delivering a joyous celebration of pop music at its sweetest and purest.
To begin the evening there was a retrospective video featuring bits and pieces of Valli and his Four Seasons career displayed on a big screen and to thunderous applause he strode out on stage and he kicked into opener Working My Way Back To You. Surrounding him was an entire horn section, long time musical director keyboardist Robby Robinson and the latest incarnation of the Four Seasons, all of whom took care of choreography and impeccable harmonies.
He moves around the stage a bit more slowly these days, but his voice is still absolutely incredible. He may be small in stature but his presence commanded the stage. Songs like Save It For Me filled the Arena and his 1967 hit, Beggin’ which was a massive hit on the Northern Soul scene, had everyone on their feet whilst the phone lights were out for My Eyes Adored You.
The musical Jersey Boys has provided Valli with a much younger audience, who responded to hits such as Dawn (Go Away), Tell It To The Rain, Who Loves You and December 1963 (Oh What A Night), which showcased his piercing falsetto which is still one of the most extraordinary sounds in pop and its power belies the decades.
Grease started the second set which saw Valli don a sparkly bomber jacket. He then followed up with a solo hit, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You before a mash up of Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man and Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye) had the crowd belting out the songs back at him. Before leaving the stage he introduced a famous friend who was in the audience; Suzie Quatro received the applause graciously.
Back on for Rag Doll and Let’s Hang On! Valli said an emotional goodbye and given that his 2017 tour was to be his last, but he was enticed back by the audience’s reaction, so we can never be sure that he won’t be doing this all over again next year. And with the audience not wanting the night to end we can see why he doesn’t want to stop.
