★★★★★

Five Star Pick

★★★★★ Five Star Pick

Just as the real Ms Ciccone is enjoying a late-career renaissance with Confessions II, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate her startling contribution to and impact on pop music. Maia Elsey opens Material Girl by explaining that she is not attempting to impersonate Madonna, but that the goal is simply to explore the songs with genuine passion. Later, she also talks about how, like Madonna campaigning for the part of Evita, she championed the concept of this show as a lifelong fan.

While this is not a 1:1 tribute act, what you get instead is a high-energy, glorious rip through an hour of Madonna hits, backed by a live band and, for the most part, given a fabulously rock & roll treatment. If you are an electro-pop diehard, this might be an off-putting concept, but it works extremely well, with an almost punk version of the title song (bookended by a bit of Marilyn) being a highlight. Everyone looks like they are having a great time onstage, especially the drummer who wears an infectious grin through most of the numbers.

Frozen is also a surprise treat, with the guitars recreating some of the reverb and textures of the original in a really interesting way. Elsewhere, they know when to pull back and let the vocals shine, most notably on a breathtaking version of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina. I’m very picky about my Evita, and when I realised Maia was going to tackle the ‘biggie’, I was somewhat apprehensive, but she absolutely nailed it and I was left with my mouth agape.

Maia Elsey is stunning throughout, bringing joyful energy, top-notch vocals and a splash of sexy to this fantastically fun celebration of the Queen of Pop. If you are a fan, or just like great live music, you should not miss this.

Night Owl

★★★★★

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