All the right junk in all the right places

[photo above: Shane Benson. The rest: Madam Arcati]

Madam Arcati and I had a real treat in store on Sunday night, when we trolled up at The London Palladium for the 1000th concert performance by our fantabulosa "house band" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox!

Even though the lovely Mr Bradlee wasn't there in person, this was a superbly-crafted, slick and professional show from beginning to end. With the most stunning set backdrop!

The evening was hosted by Mr Rogelio Douglas Jr., one of the more recent Jukebox-ees. Despite his patter and the audience-warming, however, it soon emerged that not only was he "Master of Ceremonies", but he also possesses one of the most powerful voices we've heard in a while - as this cover of Use Somebody (originally by Kings of Leon) serves to prove:

Of course, it wasn't him we came to see - it was the ladies...

And, heavens, they'd brought out the "big guns" - former Puppini Sister Emma Smith, Glen Campbell's little girl Ashley Campbell, Tatum Langley, original PMJ member Ariana Savalas, and our favourite Sarah Potenza, to boot!

Here's Miss Langley giving it full throttle on Die for You (originally by The Weeknd)...

...Miss Savalas with a much improved cover of GaGa's Bad Romance...

...and Miss Smith with her version of the Barenaked Ladies' One Week:

However, the combination of Miss Smith, Miss Langley and Miss Potenza (on All About That Bass) was (of course) a show-stopper!

There was a huge variety (as is to be expected) in the ensemble's repertoire for the evening. There were also some funny interludes, including percussionist Jack Amblin playing his washboard-cum-one-man-band device (on Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual), and frequent frenetic interludes by the brilliant tap-dancer Demi Remick.

Here's the set-list we were treated to:

• Thriller (Michael Jackson cover)
• Lovesong (The Cure cover)
• Basket Case (Green Day cover)
• 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
• The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News cover)
• Radioactive (Imagine Dragons cover)
• Say You'll Be There (Spice Girls cover)
• No Diggity (Blackstreet cover)
• There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (Smiths Cover)
• Die for You (The Weeknd cover)
• It’s Not Unusual (Tom Jones cover)
• Burn (Ellie Goulding cover)
• One Week (Barenaked Ladies cover)
• Use Somebody (Kings of Leon cover)
• Bad Romance (Lady Gaga cover)
• All About That Bass (Meghan Trainor cover)
• Encore: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2 cover)

It was at that point that I "upped sticks" soon after the Madam, who had already departed for the loo and a fag. I exited the theatre, but he was nowhere to be seen - for he had (wisely) gone back into the auditorium instead of for nicotine, where a second encore was taking place. I missed it, he got no video of it - but [and I make no apologies for featuring it again] Miss Potenza closed the show with this one...

Postmodern Jukebox ft. Sarah Potenza - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding [Nick Lowe (Motown Cover)]

A phenomenal evening!

All hail Postmodern Jukebox...

Where is the harmony, sweet harmony?

Thank fuck for that! It's all over for another year, bar the screaming.

Time to put Mariah-fucking-Carey, Slade, Shakin' Stevens, Cliff-fucking-Richard, Paul McCartney, The Waitresses, Brenda Lee, Wizzard, Boney M, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Jona Lewie, Wham!, Michael Bublé, Chris de Burgh, Darlene Love, Greg Lake and all the rest of those tinsel-clad bastards back in their box...

...and get on with some proper music! Who better to provide it than our "house band" here at Dolores Delargo Towers - with a favourite, a true diva on board - and a remarkably apposite message?

Postmodern Jukebox ft. Sarah Potenza - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding [Nick Lowe (Motown Cover)]

Wow!

That certainly helps with the hangover...

There must be an angel playing with my...

She must be singing about him...

Finishing off this busy month of 60th birthday celebrations, including the DIVA exhibition, La Cage Aux Folles, and of course our faboo trip to Amsterdam, today should have been our traditional picnic in Regent's Park - but there were dramatic thunderstorms yesterday and there is a risk of more rain later, so we are instead "gathering the clans" in the grandest of all Wetherspoons, the converted City bank The Crosse Keys near the Bank of England. Should be fun!

Meanwhile, about that angel...

I have no idea who the fuck Sarah McLachlan is (and I have never heard this song before in my life), but I bet my shirt she does not, and will never have, a voice like this!

Trust our "house band" to get the best divas in town on board:

Postmodern Jukebox ft. Sarah Potenza - Angel (Sarah McLachlan classic Soul style cover)

Perfect "Sunday Music".

Of gardens, new toys and power-ballads

I've knackered myself out today trying to do battle with the carpet of bastard sycamore seeds that are coating the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers (thanks to the neglect of tenants next door who have allowed this most evil of weed trees to grow unchecked in their garden). I even invested in a "new toy", a garden vacuum/leaf blower, and it's still a punishing task (and somewhat never ending, as no sooner is the paving cleared, more of the damn things helicopter down)!

Time to wind-down, methinks...

It's been a little while since I visited the lovely Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox for a bit of "Sunday Music", but my heavens! With this formidable diva on board, I'm very glad I did:

Postmodern Jukebox feat. Sarah Potenza - The Power Of Love (Huey Lewis New Orleans Blues Cover)

Yo, Mama!!