Duffy Performs at Apollo Review
Welsh Singer Debuts Rockferry with Intimate Concert in Harlem
May 13, 2008
Welsh singer Duffy, dressed in a simple retro fitting white miniskirt, stands alone at New York’s celebrated Apollo stage one night before her debut album is released in America. Cupping the mike, the tiny woman sings the first lines of “Syrup and Honey” and her powerful voice fills the famous Harlem theatre.
In just a few bars, it becomes clear that the Apollo truly is the theatre “Where Stars are Born and Legends are Made”. Duffy has arrived.
From Warwick Avenue to 125th Street
Moving directly into “Rockferry”, the title track from her debut album, Duffy wooed the packed crowed who braved a rainy and cold Monday night in New York to listen to the somber retro R&B style that has propelled Duffy to the top of the charts across Europe.
Performing at the Apollo, where legends of Jazz, R&B and Rock and Roll set brilliant careers in motion, seems the perfect springboard from which Duffy should launch her career in America.
Duffy’s music blends sultry tales filled with heartache, with sixties girl-group melodies and echoes of Billie Holiday and Gladys Knight, two greats who began their careers at the Apollo.
In the short performance, Duffy performed music from Rockferry including “Breaking My Own Heart”, “Scared” and “Oh Boy”, a B-side in the UK that has been added to the American version of her album. The new track, one rare occurrence where she didn’t write the material, focused on the gentler side of the singer. This soft ballad, accompanied by two competing acoustic guitars, lulled the crowd with its sweet melody and harmony performed by two male backup singers.
But it was her rambunctious presentation of new UK single “Warwick Avenue” that moved the crowd to their feet. This loud crowd pleaser moved quickly into “Delayed Devotion” with Duffy dancing on the stage like a cross between a Roger Moore-era Bond Girl and Nancy Sinatra.
Hanging on Too Long
“This next song,” Duffy began, downplaying her thick Welsh accent, “like most of my songs, is about not taking any shit.” Covering her mouth in mock embarrassment she continued “Can I say that in the Apollo”, and moved into “Hanging on Too Long”.
In contrast, the next track she performed “Stepping Stone” weaved a tale of a time when she had taken some “shit”. “I fell in love and…wrote a song about it,” she said pausing before revealing much more.
Before being called back for a one-song encore, where she performed the brilliant “Distant Dreamer” one of the stand out tracks on Rockferry, Duffy paused to contemplate just how far she had come in such a short time. “What are the odds a girl from Wales to be singing on this stage?” and ended the performance with trade mark single “Mercy”.
If the Apollo legend holds true for her, this girl from Wales, who has already scored a number one single and album in the UK, should be singing on many stages for a long time.
Duffy’s debut CD Rockferry is released in America on May 13. She is currently on a promotional tour in support of the album.
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