Dexys at Duke of York’s

In the hustle and bustle of central London, St Martin’s Lane remains a narrow, seldom disturbed street on the edge of Covent Garden. It is the home of theatres, cafes and second-hand bookshops, but this month, the street will see Dexys perform their latest album One Day I’m Going to Soar in its entirety.

Generating much attention in the 80s, Dexys (then known as Dexys Midnight Runners) are best known for their chart topping hits Come On Eileen and Geno, two songs that never fail to appear at the end of a party. One Day I’m Going to Soar, however, is more tranquil: a hybrid of 60s soul and Kevin Rowland’s confessional and often crass lyrics.

The stage, tall and narrow, and much like the road it was situated on, was adorned in rather intimidating drapes. The powerful backdrop of harsh blues and purples created pools of colour that seemed to fall from the sky. However elaborate the set up may have seemed, the performance itself was rather more subtle and understated. Kevin Rowland sang of love, longing and heartache, confiding in a loyal and comical Pete Williams for the best part of two hours.

It was Rowland’s love interest and new band member Madeleine Hyland who brought a refreshing twist to the stage. A young and beautiful starlet, Hyland captured the audience’s hearts during her performance of I’m Always Going to Love, at one point screaming at a detached Rowland for toying with her emotions, adding a sense of intensity and vibrancy to the mix.

The show dipped in and out of musical theatre, which served as a strange experience, but also an exciting new approach to gigging. The band certainly marked their return with a bang with the new album’s visual narrative helping to bring it to life. Unique and innovative – Dexys have returned.

Harriet Gibson

For further information and future events visit Dexys’ website here.

Watch the video for She’s Got a Wiggle here: