Live Review: Seu Jorge - Life Aquatic: A Tribute To David Bowie

"Had Seu Jorge not recorded my songs in Portuguese, I would never have heard this level of beauty which he has imbued them with." So said David Bowie of Jorge's The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions, a collection of the Brazilian artist's versions of Bowie hits sung in Portuguese, some of which were originally recorded for Wes Anderson's film The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou.

There are a couple of red beanies on audience members' heads, paying tribute to Jorge's role of Pele dos Santos in the film, and collections of aquatic props on either side of the stage - fishing nets, anchors, telescopes - set the scene. A red beanie-sporting fellow wearing a black T-shirt that reads, "Unpaid Intern", enters the stage space to introduce tonight's performance and point out it comes to us courtesy of Jorge, but also with "the spirit of Bowie in the air".

Jorge arrives on stage to rapturous applause, opening with Ziggy Stardust. The melody shimmers, immediately recognisable as Jorge plays his Brazilian six-string nylon guitar, but unfamiliar Portuguese words replace the English lyrics that are so ingrained in our psyches. The stories Jorge tells between songs bring the LOLs as we're told about the phone call from Anderson offering him the job that interrupted his day-off PlayStation session (FIFA), how he often confused Bowie for Billy Idol, the struggles he had communicating on set due to his "garbage" English (Jorge was assisted by the "very chic" Anjelica Huston who communicated with him in French and acted as translator), how he initially thought he couldn't take on the role of Pele 'cause he couldn't play soccer (only FIFA) and recognising The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou actors by movie (Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters etc) when he forgot their names on set. 

After playing us a sample of the kind of music he grew up surrounded by, which calls to mind bossa nova classic The Girl From Ipanema, Jorge's gently strummed rendition of Changes follows and is soul-soothing. It's kinda fun playing Name That Tune and some song titles come to us quicker than others: it's not until Jorge sings the Oh! You Pretty Things chorus in English that we have an 'aha!' moment.

When Jorge shares with us his confusion upon hearing Anderson was ready "to shoot" him, hilarity ensues. We're then told Jorge was given seven minutes to work out a version of Rebel Rebel for the film and he's thankful for the lightbulb moment that inspired him to try the song in a bossa nova style.

Jorge then plays a rocking Brazilian band's version of Starman from the '80s, called O Astronauta De Mármore, which the couple behind us unfortunately ruin by clapping loudly on the 'one' and 'three' - make it stop! While introducing Lady Stardust, Jorge tells us this song was inspired by Cate Blanchett - who he met when she was four months pregnant - and her flawless radiance. The "Hey man"s from Suffragette City remain intact, sung in English.

The lighting design throughout this show is perfectly synched to the music, enhances the mood of each song and certainly gives us the feeling that Bowie's spirit is in the building. The house lights even flash twice to encourage us to clap in time to the corresponding parts between Jorge's furious riffs during Space Oddity. Jorge's voice is given added reverb on this one and moving lights circle and then zone in on him as if emanating from an alien spaceship. 

Three days after Bowie died, Jorge tells us he also lost his father. Jorge then dedicates the stirring Life On Mars? to them both. The audience stillness and silence speaks volumes. 

For our encore, the back curtains are drawn back to utilise a screen and footage from The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou is interspersed with images of Bowie, much to the delight of this geeky crowd. It's a bit weird to include Rebel Rebel twice given that Bowie's songbook is so vast and this is our sole gripe for the night.

But before Jorge leaves the stage for good, Bowie's iconic image flashes up on the screen and the original version of Let's Dance plays out over the venue sound system while Jorge and his "Unpaid Intern" bust moves on stage. Jorge is even spotted dabbing at one point (not so sure Bowie would approve of that daggy move)! As Let's Dance plays out and the house lights are brought in only a handful of punters keep dancing, which is disappointing, and the scattered few that do record themselves for social media stories - what is wrong with people?! 

And just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, a gent in the foyer dressed in a bright pink suit plus matching top hat with bunny ears dips into his basket and hands us Easter eggs.