As I shivered outside the Corner Hotel I did what one always does when nicotine fails to fade away the waiting boredom… eavesdropped on the conversation behind. The banter was between two men who were commenting on the line of pub goers adjacent to ours, – œThose kids are so young they wouldn’t know who Betty Davis is, let alone Betty Harris.’ And in that moment I tried to hide the fact that I stopped using Clearasil in November of last year and headed into the gig feeling a little out of my depth.

However the crowd may have surprised my companions in the line with the age of the crowd varying from retro attired 20 year olds to hearing conscience 50 years (who all donned those fluoro rock and roll ear plugs though the decibels didn’t warrant the effort.) proving that evidence that good music doesn’t die but transcends.

As the vinyl scratched sound came over the PA and the crowd began huddled in, making me wish I had Naomi Campbell-like height to see over the harems of bodies. The Bamboos came to the stage first exhilarating the audience with their six piece jazz/funk band. The drummer played like a possessed marionette, twitching with the beat and captivating the audience with his unique drumming technique. And when it looked like the crowd where about to lose the soles of their shoes from the dancing wear and tear Mohair Slim – looking like a cross between a 2 am evangelical preacher and the slick 60’s TV host – announced that we were about to be in the presence of a true soul legend.

Betty Harris graced the stage in a gold dress, black and blond hair and just enough bling to blind. She was accompanied by three backup singers carrying with them their sauvé attitude, harmonious voices and killer fashion. Betty talked to the audience like we were friends at a house party, telling us tales, teaching us lessons on life and cracking jokes. Her songs were just an extension of the banter between me and her… and the rest of the crowd, Betty’s husky voice guided us through her life with her songs some examples were Is It Hot In Here, her first hit Cry To Me silenced the crowd with its sad lyrics and astounding harmonies and You Do My Soul which made everybody want to hug someone.

Throughout the night the I wondered – œhow much diva was in the soul diva Betty Harris?’ as the world class Bamboos were willing to take a back seat, seeming to simply radiate in Harris’ presence and her massive chandelier earrings. One thing’s for sure – Betty Harris is one hell of an awesome woman.

Betty Harris’ show was at the Corner Hotel brought eras of music, and generations of fan together with her deep soul music. Though this was a one off show it was certainly a conversation I didn’t want to end.

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