The 27 Club is a club in which all members died at the age of 27, explains Jack Lukeman, having strutted onto the stage in sunglasses to a hefty round of applause. It’s an interesting concept that allows for an evening of eclectic and well-known music and Lukeman fronts it with style. He’s got some serious charm about him and the audience hangs on his every word as he swaggers from cover to cover, from pop trivia snippets to witty remarks in a fabulous tribute to the late greats of modern music.
The music itself is skilfully performed, Lukeman’s powerful voice backed up by incredibly slick piano, guitar and drums. Every song is met with a fond smile from the crowd and there’s a nice air of familiarity in the buzzing room. However, it’s not a concept that in this format can produce something spectacular. The music, expertly presented as it is, has something of a lounge vibe about it, which doesn’t necessarily complement, for example, the Rolling Stones.
The style shoos out some of the features that make all these musical heroes so special, in favour of something well-executed but sometimes a bit bland. Take the soul out of Janis Joplin or the grunge out of Nirvana and you’re left with something rather less inspiring. Indeed, it’s hard to stifle a giggle when Lukeman pulls up a stool at his mock bar on top of the piano and sings a slow, heartfelt rendition of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit whilst the lyrics slowly fade up one by one on the projector screen.
One particular highlight is the small section of Robert Johnson covers, combining Lukeman’s smooth, strong voice with energetic guitar. It’s upbeat and totally infectious.
The 27 Club is an affectionate remembrance of some of the great artists of the recent past and features impressive musicianship, fun facts and stories and heaps of character from the front man. The charm of the evening will draw you in and leave you with a spring in your step, but it’s unlikely to blow you away.
