Review: Legend: A Tribute to Bob Marley, The Fleece

A set of songs from the late, great Bob Marley and a live marriage proposal on stage made for a very memorable Saturday night at The Fleece.

The band Legend are made up of seven extremely talented musicians and their performance (in two parts, both an hour each) was always going to delight the packed crowd as they brought a setlist of hits.

Starting with Natural Mystic, taken from the Exodus album that was released in 1977, the set moved onto Get Up, Stand Up which saw the audience bobbing their heads in time and bouncing along to the grooves. Led by the fascinating and charming front man Michael Anton Phillips (otherwise known as Cheesy) this whole band had an infectious stage presence that caused a sea of smiling faces.

That’s the thing with reggae music, it has a vibe about it that can lift spirits even out the darkest of moods. When Michael speaks after the first two songs, the atmosphere of the room gets even more vibrant: “Greetings ladies and gentlemen. We are Legend, a tribute to Mr Bob Marley. Sing along, don’t be shy – put your hands in the air and wave like you don’t care. Say yea, whoa, bounce with us. Are you ready for this?” Time to then perform Exodus and the crowd up the tempo to suit, singing out the words, making the two female backing singers give out some big smiles.

The groove is strong in this fairly intimate venue and when I Shot The Sheriff starts up, everyone becomes louder and even more joyful; the musicianship is perfect and impossible to fault. All of these members are stars in their own right; working together in a flawless fashion.

Michael is a wise man, he speaks to the women of the room and makes it known that he holds them all in high regard: “This next song is a dedication to all the ladies in the building, put your hand in the air if you’re a female. Whether you are a mum, a wife, a sister, a grandmother, great grandmother – this is a song to all of you. You are the greatest gift.” Then predictably No Woman No Cry starts and there is a sense of feeling value and respect about the place.

The hits just keep coming with Legend, just when one comes to an energetic end, another is sparked off – with the female backing singers starting up their practiced different routines for each track. One Love, Waiting in Vain and Is This Love complete this first half of the night before a thirty minute interval allows for a breather and a drink.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6U-TGahwvs

By the time the band come back on the stage at 9.30pm, everyone is suitably relaxed and ready for another boogie to a constant stream of Marley classics; Buffalo Soldier is a welcome assault on the senses and when Three Little Birds strikes, the cheers are loud and grateful. This is a real favourite which conjures an array of emotions.

Michael kept the engagement at a peak, he said: “Things can get really hard. Just remember to keep your loved ones and family close.” Redemption Song then rather appropriately starts and the slower pace means couples start snuggling closer and friends smile at each other. This music really touches souls and makes no excuses for it.

After Michael decides to take off his hat to a massive applause, some more songs, including Stir It Up and Jammin, have their airing. Then a wonderful, strange and unexpected thing happens. This sudden interruption of music confuses and bewilders as an unknown man comes onto the stage and there’s a call out for Victoria Murphy. With some reluctance, Victoria climbs the stairs onto the stage and stands there as her boyfriend takes to his bended knee and a marriage proposal escapes his lips. There’s a yes and a massive cheer and Victoria goes as red as a beetroot. What a memorable moment, on the already special night.

Being the first show of the year for Legend, they could be pardoned if they were a bit rusty but there was no chance of that – these talented individuals are slick and the night couldn’t have gone any better in any way. Going off stage and coming back on for the obligatory encore, Could You Be Loved was one of the last songs before Michael broke out into a massive, satisfied grin and said: “One love, peace and safe journey to you all.”

In essence, this was an absolutely outstanding gig with enough energy to leave us feeling renewed; indeed an evening full of beautiful lyrics and happy memories – all at an incredibly low price.

Find more information on the activity of Legend at www.legendlive.co.uk/welcome.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i-gcWdBUb8