Live Review: Stratosfunk

As people dressed in blue and gold flocked through Subiaco to Paterson's Stadium for Friday night football, The Regal Theatre attracted its own crowd for a special night of nostalgic good fun. Having played together in various forms for over five years, the Stratosfunk live show is now a genuine performance complete with costume changes, choreography and well-rehearsed set of Motown classics. For their Regal Theatre set the group invited their audience onboard the Stratosfunk Soul Train, paying homage to the soul and R&B artists of the '60s in a two-hour concert. With the mood set beforehand by the Soul Purpose DJs Agent Double-O Soul and King & Peas, the main act strolled on stage just after 8pm to a welcoming cheer from the packed theatre. Expanded to an 11-piece line-up for the evening, the band began playing as frontwoman Yara Neto and her two backing singers Amy Rosato and Jessie Gordon sauntered on in the company of two go-go dancers.

Looking immaculate in sequinned mini dresses, the three singers were on form from the outset. As Rosato and Gordon provided pitch perfect harmonies behind her, Neto took centre stage in charismatic fashion. Opening with Stevie Wonder's Uptight (Everything's Alright) and coupling each song with a charming intro, the band were clearly having as much fun as the audience. Pockets of space at the front of both corners of the stage were unofficially reserved for dancing, and by fourth song My Girl were already stacked with eager fans unable to keep still in their seats. With such a large catalogue of hits to choose from, there was never a let up in hits, from a grooving Dancing In The Street to the night's undoubted highlight in River Deep Mountain High. After a brief intermission the players returned with a spark, a Supremes medley soon into the second set drawing the biggest reaction from the audience for the night. Proving they were frontwomen in their own right, the two backing singers took lead vocals at different stages of the night too, with Rosato on Build Me Up Buttercup and Gordon on a sultry rendition of I Just Want To Make Love To You.

As tribute bands go, Stratosfunk are world class in all aspects. Almost hidden behind the songs themselves is the fact that these are all brilliantly performed renditions, faithful to the originals yet explored enough to give each band member their time to shine. The band are a collection of phenomenal musicians, highlighted by a trumpet solo during What A Man and scorching guitar in the Aretha classic Respect. The constant movement on stage combined with the band's genuine enjoyment made it impossible not to get caught up in the festivities, and in Neto they have a genuine star. As the final song Shake A Tail Feather galloped to a finish, the singers danced offstage in unison. Band leader and drummer Dom D'Leno was fittingly the last to leave the stage, ending a hugely successful outing for the group.