Tavares, The Four Tops and The Temptations performing their Together Again One More Time! Tour at The Motorpoint Arena Nottingham on Thursday 29th November 2018
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
Great music, slick dance moves and lovely harmonies were on the menu last night at the Motorpoint Arena as two of Motown’s biggest names were joined by three Cape Verdean-American brothers who proceeded to treat an appreciative crowd to an evening of pure nostalgia.
With a line up that included Tavares, The Four Tops and The Temptations it was an evening that was filled with spirit and soul. Up first were 70s Rhode Island stars Tavares, made up of three of the five original brothers, with Chubby missing due to a recent operation. Dressed in matching blue jackets they kicked of the evening with oldies which included It Only Takes A Minute, Don’t Take Away The Music, and Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel, which had the crowd on their feet singing and dancing from the off.
Up next were The Four Tops and with original member Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir who turns 83 this year still being a commanding presence despite having to rest for a few songs due to his recent surgery for a broken hip. Opening with Loco In Acapulco they treated fans to wonderful renditions of Baby I Need Your loving, a wonderful Bernadette and It’s the Same Old Song which had the crowd belting out the words.
Backed by a slick rhythm section and a nine piece brass ensemble they delivered their timeless songs such as Reach Out (I’ll Be There) and I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) in a set that could have and should have been longer.
Alternating the top slot on this tour, it was The Temptations who finished this evening off. Kicking off their set with Here I Come this vocal quintet had this lively crowd on their feet. Otis Williams, a founder member, turned 77 this year but he belied his years as they delivered a thumping Ball Of Confusion and a heartfelt I Wish it Would Rain in tribute to former Temptation Dennis Edwards, who died earlier this year.
With the audience on their feet, they rounded off their set with perhaps their biggest hit, My Girl, giving a great ending to a wonderful evening of infectious, happy songs that have certainly stood the test of time.