You can tell a lot about a band from its audience. The Point was full of smart-casual 20-somethings, mostly couples, all very reverent and enthusiastic.
It's so very hard to dislike Texas. They aren't cool or alternative, despite a finely crafted mix of rock, pop and soul. However, to top the charts eight years after their first hit, I Don't Want A Lover, is quite an achievement in these days of vacuous pop.
Beforehand, Minneapolis three-piece Semisonic opened the proceedings. I thought much of their core audience would have overlapped with Texas, but it took the last few songs, including the epic Closing Time, to make any real impact on an expectant crowd. Debuting almost all the forthcoming album, All About Chemistry, was a mistake. On first listen, it's always hard to sing along.
From the moment she took the stage, one realised that Texas's charm relies heavily on casting Sharleen Spiteri as a siren-like figurehead. Her powerful, sultry vocals and sexy banter gave the band real stage presence; dancing with an eager audience member was a particularly funny highlight. The band duly delivered their greatest hits with some panache in a quite dazzling show, with enough good songs to revisit the past without falling into the trap of polished blandness or resting on their laurels. Three new songs, however, especially Inner Smile with co-writer Gregg (New Radicals) Alexander, hinted at a step backwards into pop-by-numbers.
But then again, Texas's appeal always transcended meaningful lyrics. Their professional musicianship and undeniable energy conjured up a truly excellent atmosphere that couldn't be mimicked. When Spiteri returned, leather-clad, for an encore of Say What You Want and Suspicious Minds (complete with Elvis-like hipswivelling), the audience was begging for more. Always a good way to leave.
