July 17–24, 1997

music|reviews

Tina Turner

July 11, Blockbuster-Sony E-Centre

You've never seen so many middle-aged music fans jump to their feet as when Tina Turner strolled out into the crowd before her concert to say hi to Oprah Winfrey. Though the age of the crowd ranged from red-haired teenyboppers to white-haired grandmothers, this packed house seemed like cruise ship gone wild, with many people waving or shouting "O-prah" (seated in the front). It was just the first in an evening of showstopping moments.

The house lights dimmed and Tina returned to the other side of the curtain (emblazoned with a giant Hanes ad). It was pulled back to reveal a stage befitting an old episode of Solid Gold. A video screen took up the center of the silver lame backdrop and two winding staircases lined the sides of the set.

When the band kicked in, waves of digital synthesizer and choppy, saturated guitar were augmented by video images of Turner twirling on a stark landscape. Who knew the E-Centre could ever be transformed into a Las Vegas lounge? Just when it seemed like this show would be like watching bad VH-1, the 57-year-old singer belted out "Whatever You Want." Her brassy growl cut through all of the schmaltz and managed to give it electric soul. Three dancers, dressed in matching skin-tight vinyl dresses, were like rejects from a Vidal Sassoon commercial. Occasionally, Turner got in step with the girls and proved she could still use her gams to great effect.

The band was mired in an '80s sound, particularly during covers of John Waite's "Missing You" and Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love." Saxophonist Teddy Cappello, with his beefy pecs busting through his tank top and hair slicked back into a ponytail, could have been an extra in Mad Max. The musical highlight of the show may have been when the musicians went acoustic for low-key renditions of "Let's Stay Together" and "I Can't Stand the Rain." The earthy accompaniment gave Turner's bluesy voice a chance to shine, unfettered by overbearing arrangements.

The big moment of the stage show was the introduction to the theme from Goldeneye: Turner appeared from behind a life-size James Bond shutter. This bit was outdone when 90-year-old birthday girl/audience member Mitzi Goldman was brought out of the audience by Turner to dance along to "Proud Mary."

"This is a triumph for me and for Philadelphia," announced the singer near the end of her set. The statement would have been pompous if Turner hadn't put on a ballsy performance that transcended the setting and the band.

— Neil Gladstone