Anderson East, Sage Gateshead

ALABAMA r&b, soul act Anderson East made a welcome return and topped the bill for the first time. Complete with a knockout six-piece band of trumpet, sax, keyboards, drums, electric lead and bass guitar to go with his own guitar, which was used sparingly, East strutted his stuff.

Alongside favourites from his own catalogue East instilled new life and his own take on the classics Stay With Me and Knock On Wood, and boy didn’t the band and frontman do a terrific job of both.

His husky vocals were pure southern soul. East was forever giving encouragement to his band, one that he is understandably proud off and set to become a big draw.

Keen for them to experience the warmth of a UK audience, when not belting out songs, he moved around the stage in animated fashion. His efforts left nearly everyone present hoarse through helping him.

A classy performer, East won favour with tales that spoke of riding shotgun in his daddy’s truck, how through being an angel a woman brought out the devil in him and even admitted being a dumb ass on leaving a good woman. From pulsating rhythms to brooding love songs, he dug deep into a magical moody soul/r&b groove determined to give an all-fired thrill to the audience.

After seeing them walk off stage for the last time, the audience stood in appreciation of the music before swapping notes that such entertainers as Anderson East are few and far between.

Maurice Hope