This blog tells that on Friday night I saw my ninth David Campbell show. And I’m not counting seeing him in “Dream Lover” and on the bill of George Michael and Disney tribute nights. So what keeps me coming back show after show? It’s just always a great time. It’s as simple as that.
He’s such a successful TV host that I think some people forget what an incredible singer he is. As that career in front of the camera has taken more time and focus, it seems even David questions it. He said that he wondered whether people would still come to the shows. Looking around at the beaming faces in the packed suburban auditorium, I think he got his answer.
After so many years in the recording studio and on the stage, David’s got such a wide catalogue of crowd-pleasers to choose from. The hits came thick and fast, peppered with banter from this charismatic entertainer. No matter when you came to his music and no matter your favourite era, you would have left satisfied. My parents were thrilled for the Good Lovin’ songs. My dad sang enthusiastically along to “Jackie Wilson Said,” a track from his favourite singer Van Morrison. My mum was instantly transported back to being a teenager, when her eyes locked with a singer performing in Battle of the Bands, when he flawlessly sang “How Can I Be Sure.” My husband and I were thrilled his ’80s album Let’s Go, far from a commercial success, wasn’t entirely forgotten. Most of DC’s fans probably don’t remember the decade as fondly as we do, but they couldn’t begrudge us spirited covers of “Come on Eileen” and “Tainted Love.”
We learned pretty early that DC’s mind was half on the Swannies game, but it certainly didn’t show in his performance. In fact, it seemed to spur him on. He insisted that he wouldn’t leave until the game was done, and when they did win it gave a little extra excitement to “Shout.” He must have sung that Johnny O’Keefe classic hundreds of times, but never felt quite as jubilant as in that moment.
David said many times that it had been far too long since he played for us all and thanked us so warmly for our warm reception. Hopefully that means he won’t leave us waiting too long for his return. I’m definitely ready to bring my show tally into the double digits. David will wrap up his current run of Good Lovin’ & More shows when he plays Twin Towns Services Club in Bundjalung Country/Tweed Heads on November 2.
Image source: own photos