
Meat Loaf tribute act leaves the Aberdeen audience 'All Revved Up'
Heaven Can Wait, the Meat Loaf tribute act currently touring the UK, knows exactly where to walk it.
Big vocals, high drama, and more than a few raised eyebrows.
The show knows exactly what it is, and in Aberdeen on Wednesday night it delivered everything the crowd came for.
More than three years on from Meat Loaf's passing, his music still has the power to fill a theatre and stir a crowd which is a testament to just how deeply it connected.
Taking on Meat Loaf is no small feat – literally.
It's not just about hitting the notes. It's about channelling that wild-eyed, operatic melodrama that made him such a one-off.
Frontman Lee Brady is a brave soul, stepping into the spotlight with the swagger and stamina needed to power through an epic Jim Steinman setlist.
And to his credit, he delivers. No one can truly be Meat Loaf, but Brady finds the theatrical core and runs with it.
During two 45 minute sets he's backed by a rock-solid band of seasoned UK musicians, including female vocalist Kerry Carlton, handling everything from Paradise by the Dashboard Light to Dead Ringer for Love.
This wasn't just a karaoke night in wigs; there was proper musicianship on display.
Some music fans can be a bit sniffy about these shows, but it's worth noting that many players split their time between tributes and original projects.
Far from stifling creativity, often gigs like this help fund it.
The setlist is exactly what it needs to be.
We got the big Bat Out of Hell hitters, along with some deep cuts.
The show leans into the over-the-top drama that made these songs iconic. It's ridiculous, of course, but that's exactly the point.
A quick nod, too, to the venue.
The Tivoli Theatre is one of Aberdeen's hidden gems.
Rich in heritage and with an intimate feel, it's a perfect match for a show built on connection and emotion rather than sheer scale.
The all-seated setup perhaps encouraged a reserved response from the polite Aberdeen audience.
The crowd, mostly folks who were around when Bat Out of Hell first came screaming out of radios nearly half a century ago, took some coaxing before they got up and let loose during the second half.
In the end, Heaven Can Wait isn't trying to replace the original.
It's trying to keep the fire burning.
And for Wednesday night's Aberdeen crowd, it did.
If you came looking for subtlety, you were in the wrong century.
But if you came looking for a rock opera dream of leather, heartbreak and passion, you'd do anything for this show.
It's no surprise that it's set to return next year.
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4 days ago
- BBC News
Wolverhampton actress: 'Performing at home is a surreal feeling'
"I think it's going to be a really emotional moment actually because it's something I've worked my whole life towards, to get this job."Sophie-Rose Emery grew up watching pantomimes and shows at the Wolverhampton Grand. Born and bred in the city, she would go on to join local amateur dramatics as a professional actress she has come a long way, but had not returned to her home city until now, to tread the boards at the theatre where her love of acting was born - in Bat Out Of Hell, a musical centred on the songs of Meat Loaf."To go there and be on the stage and perform for my family and friends in my hometown will be a really surreal feeling," she said. The 26-year-old is performing the show at the Grand from 14-19 July, playing Scherzzo and she is also first cover for Raven, the female lead in the show."It's a storyline very much similar to Peter Pan," she said. "It's a really cool story".Her family and friends locally will be watching her take to the stage, something Ms Emery is excited about."There's no place like home really," she said. It is a milestone moment for Ms Emery, who attended the Ingram Academy in Willenhall, on the border with Wolverhampton, before going to Lichfield Musical Youth Theatre and Birmingham Ormiston also performed in Wolverhampton's Got the Bat Out of Hell show has allowed her to enjoy experiencing cities across the country, but nothing beats coming home to perform."The thing that gets me every time is the people, to be honest, they're just so friendly and receiving," she said."The Grand is a beautiful theatre anyway - but it's just the heart and the people, they're such a welcoming friendly group of people and it's such a nice audience to perform to." She has also performed in the show when it was at The Alexandra in Birmingham."It was such a great audience," she said."[Brummies] aren't afraid to show you how much they're enjoying the show. "They'll clap and they'll shout and it makes you feel really appreciated as an actor and I just feel like it's my people so I love coming home - it's just a really nice feeling." Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.


Press and Journal
15-05-2025
- Press and Journal
Meat Loaf tribute act leaves the Aberdeen audience 'All Revved Up'
There's a fine line between homage and impersonation. Heaven Can Wait, the Meat Loaf tribute act currently touring the UK, knows exactly where to walk it. Big vocals, high drama, and more than a few raised eyebrows. The show knows exactly what it is, and in Aberdeen on Wednesday night it delivered everything the crowd came for. More than three years on from Meat Loaf's passing, his music still has the power to fill a theatre and stir a crowd which is a testament to just how deeply it connected. Taking on Meat Loaf is no small feat – literally. It's not just about hitting the notes. It's about channelling that wild-eyed, operatic melodrama that made him such a one-off. Frontman Lee Brady is a brave soul, stepping into the spotlight with the swagger and stamina needed to power through an epic Jim Steinman setlist. And to his credit, he delivers. No one can truly be Meat Loaf, but Brady finds the theatrical core and runs with it. During two 45 minute sets he's backed by a rock-solid band of seasoned UK musicians, including female vocalist Kerry Carlton, handling everything from Paradise by the Dashboard Light to Dead Ringer for Love. This wasn't just a karaoke night in wigs; there was proper musicianship on display. Some music fans can be a bit sniffy about these shows, but it's worth noting that many players split their time between tributes and original projects. Far from stifling creativity, often gigs like this help fund it. The setlist is exactly what it needs to be. We got the big Bat Out of Hell hitters, along with some deep cuts. The show leans into the over-the-top drama that made these songs iconic. It's ridiculous, of course, but that's exactly the point. A quick nod, too, to the venue. The Tivoli Theatre is one of Aberdeen's hidden gems. Rich in heritage and with an intimate feel, it's a perfect match for a show built on connection and emotion rather than sheer scale. The all-seated setup perhaps encouraged a reserved response from the polite Aberdeen audience. The crowd, mostly folks who were around when Bat Out of Hell first came screaming out of radios nearly half a century ago, took some coaxing before they got up and let loose during the second half. In the end, Heaven Can Wait isn't trying to replace the original. It's trying to keep the fire burning. And for Wednesday night's Aberdeen crowd, it did. If you came looking for subtlety, you were in the wrong century. But if you came looking for a rock opera dream of leather, heartbreak and passion, you'd do anything for this show. It's no surprise that it's set to return next year. If you enjoyed this story, you may also like:


The Guardian
24-04-2025
- The Guardian
How to Fight Loneliness review – death hovers over impossibly awkward social gathering
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