Concert review: The Overtones at Birmingham Symphony Hall

The Overtones

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

By David Lumb

A gig that started slowly soon stepped up a gear to win over the audience at Birmingham's Symphony Hall.

You would have thought opening the show with Gambling Man, one of The Overtones' better known numbers, would have given the group the running start they needed.

But in truth the song only received a lukewarm reception. However, the show sprang into life two or three songs later as the group performed The Longest Time.

Up until this point the quintet had been rooted to the stage but the atmosphere was suddenly lifted when they appeared among the audience, shaking hands and posing for pictures as they sang.

From here the show went from strength to strength as they worked through songs from their album Good Ol' Fashioned Love. The set included a few surprises, including their own 50s and 60s style spins on Cee low Green's Forget You.

A few notes were missed in some of the earlier numbers in the show, but their charm, wit and talent boosted by a classy set and slick choreography saw them through.