It’s been a long time since Marti Pellow first charmed Dubai with his hit-making band Wet Wet Wet, and the Scottish entertainer returned on Thursday night to once again enchant an adoring audience at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Pellow, who was born Mark McLachlan in Clydebank, Scotland, is the consummate entertainer. He is both at ease delivering soulful ballads or belting out uptown funk — all the while never forgetting to flash his infectious smile at people in the crowd below.
On stage Pellow is a tower of power, and subtle energy, using every inch of his territory to get closer to his six-member band or to connect with his fans.
Dressed in full black, like every member of his band is on Thursday night, he arrived on stage at the scheduled time to tear into Mysterious, a song from his new album of the same name.
There was a great vibe at the concert. However, it was with the second song of the night, one of his former band Wet Wet Wet’s biggest singles, Wishing I Was Lucky, where the party really began.
Rake-thin and wearing his 53 years well, Pellow skilfully reeled off a pair of hits from Wet’s back catalogue, the delightful Sweet Little Mystery from 1987’s The Memphis Sessions album and Lip Service, which featured on 1992’s High On The Happy Side record.
The female members in the audience swooned, swayed and waved their hands as Pellow squeezed every word out of the songs. After over 30 years in the business, and precious time spent on the stage at the West End in England and Broadway in America, Pellow has honed his skills to a soulful timbre that can compare with the finesse of Percy Sledge or Lou Rawls.
This soul-infused vibe formed the backbone of his 90-odd minute set as he attempted to shake-off the Wet Wet Wet connection and perform as Marti Pellow, the singer.
Sound of My Breaking Heart is the song he chose to deliver the message, and it worked. Here is an artist of extraordinary talent, passion and individuality that spills into Close to You, a wistful ballad from his solo album Smile (2001).
“This is a song that was inspired by my younger days sitting with my father on the banks of the River Clyde, watching the boats sail into wherever,” he reminisced.
“My father was a big inspiration, so I wrote this song playing with words and emotions from the past. Hope you like it.”
I did, a lot. There are songs and then there are songs like Close to You, which even though may not have had an original name (it was one of The Carpenters biggest hits) was ever so sublime and memorable.
By this time Pellow was in the groove, and so was the surprisingly small audience. But it did not matter. The screams and roars of approval that met every song could have matched those from a full-house at Wembley Stadium.
Next up was the gleaming I’ve Been Around the World, which was followed by Too Many People, from Wet Wet Wet’s last recording, 2007’s Timeless.
Pellow was not short on banter, talking to the crowd intermittently between songs, but mostly, he let the music do the talking.
The magical, Goodnight Girl and a cover of The Beatles gem, With a Little Help from My Friends, had the crowd soaring.
There was no let down, as Pellow delivered the song they’d been waiting for all night — the monster hit that launched Wet Wet Wet, Love is All Around.
Pellow was at full throttle, using a rock-hinged style to give it muscle and freshness. Everyone was singing and at times you couldn’t even hear him on stage.
You couldn’t have found a better way to end a very special evening — an evening of warmth and nostalgia.
