Could Jack Lukeman be the coolest man in Ireland? Based on his performance on Friday in Dublin’s Olympia Theatre, he is in the running. This year Jack L played a number of shows called Club 27, paying homage to the famous musicians who passed away at the age of 27. This led to the release of an album with selected tracks from the show. On Friday the 30th of November he brought the show back to The Olympia for a sold out performance.

The show opens with ominous music, leading into the opening bars of The Doors’ Alabama Song. Lukeman walked on to the stage from the crowd  spinning his cane and launching into the song sounding very similar to The Doors’ leading vocalist Jim Morrison and throwing sparkling confetti into the crowd; it was a masculine yet flamboyant introduction. The energy in the theatre was outstanding with the crowd feeding off Lukeman’s energy. It was as though it was a foretelling for the palpable performance and display of enviable talent that was to come.

He began the double dose of Janis ‘psychedelic goddess’ Joplin with Down to You. The impish humour that Lukeman is known for shone through at the end of the song, as he held the famous note and struggled to catch his breath at the end. The crowd chuckled and the music eased off as he began to sing Joplin’s most famous song Mercedes Benz. A definite party atmosphere generated with this sing-along anthem.

Lukeman began interacting with the crowd in his natural, mildly humorous way. He referred to the show as a musical time machine in which he would now take the audience back to the ’60s because it ‘looked like more fun’. A black acoustic-electric guitar is donned and they air a fitting rendition of Paint it Black; one of The Stones’ darker songs. fitting due to the stage setting and Lukeman’s all black attire. His sexy, deep voice is more fitting to song the nasal tones of  Jagger. When the middle eight of the song approached, it became very dark and Lukeman’s voiced oozed over the instruments. They work their way expertly through a number of songs with their own twist. Songs included a sensual rendition of Echo and The Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon and another Rolling Stones classic in the form of Ruby Tuesday. 

One of the highlights was Smells Like Teen Spirit, which was of course originally performed by Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. It was reminiscent of when Johnny Cash covered Nine Inch Nail’s Hurt in the that it was chillingly beautiful. It was refreshing to hear an over-played song being revived in such a way.  Following the haunting version of the ’90s classic there was some curious sounding feedback on the mic as the wire came lose. Lukeman’s humour shone through as he referred to the noise as an assassination attempted: “I hope I live to see 27” he quipped. Other mention worthy songs performed on the night included Purple Haze and  Voodoo Child which bled into each other in a brassy, bluesy version of both songs. The end was a mixture of a big-band finish and headbanging finale.

Although Lukeman is a showman, the main attraction of the show was his flawless vocal talent which peaked during a heart wrenching rendition of Old Man River. It was a perfect version of stunning song which drew emotion from the crowd. The tempo picked up again with Canned Heat’s Going up the Country, transforming the atmosphere from somewhat sombre to that of a particularly raucous wedding crowd sing along. This led into Touch Me by The Doors with Lukeman demanding the crowd in the upper circle get on their feet, which some brave souls did. They segway into one of his own songs, which was dedicated to all the members of Club 27, Keep Dancing. This was a wonderful moment with sensible, positive sentiments; a celebration of life and there was a genuine feel good atmosphere in the theatre. The show ended where it started with The Alabama Song, the crowd on its feet triumphantly celebrating a thumping end to a sensational show.

This was more of a musical that a concert, and one you could go to again and again and still enjoy it. Jack L is a true showman with a voice that could melt your heart mixed with a dry, typically Irish humour. For this reviewer, one of the best shows of 2012 that will undoubtedly be back on a stage near us soon, if we’re all lucky.