Texas – Live Review – First Direct Arena, Leeds

By Steve Crabtree, September 2024

Name me a better front-woman in UK rock music than Sharleen Spiteri.  I’ll wait. Actually, no…I won’t wait. We’ll be here for ages.

Texas. Leeds. Friday night. Could the weekend have started any better than this?  I don’t think so, and a sell-out crowd were treated to a full-throttle, top-notch performance from a band who’ve been strong and at the top of their game for 35 years.

Sadly, I got into the arena just as support act KT Tunstall was 30 seconds away from finishing her set. So I didn’t get to enjoy much of her. And then, to my surprise, I noticed this one was an entirely seated gig. All saeter? For Texas? Surely, that shouldn’t be a thing.

However, it didn’t really matter, as what was about to follow meant the atmosphere and the energy levels were never going to dip.

“A hero’s welcome”

As we got to 8.45 pm, Texas appeared in silhouette, before a dramatic curtain drop revealed the band launching into their classic, ‘I Don’t Want a Lover.’ Spiteri paraded across the stage, kicking out lyrics and moves while thrashing out chords on her sparkly green guitar.

Clearly thrilled to be here, she received a hero’s welcome. The band followed up with ‘Halo’, keeping the things at a high level, and making sure we got all the momentum going on early in the evening.

We were about to be treated to a whole load of hits from Texas’ 35-year back catalogue. And a whole load more besides…

“Sweary ability”

All night, Texas reminded us just how important their music was to a generation or two. Out came the songs you forgot you knew, like ‘Summer Sun,’ ‘When We Are Together,’ and the Love’s Unkind-esque ‘Mr Haze’.  We were having a singalong, and much of a dancealog too – as Spiteri did her utmost to make sure that anyone who was able, was up and on their feet.

In fact, Spiteri’s interaction with the audience was a massive highlight alongside the music. Her sweary ability to engage with fans through jokes, anecdotes, and direct conversations is something else. And she manages to change a large arena show into something remarkably intimate. Even when she gets “flashed” by fans down the front..!

This connection, combined with a backdrop of crystal-clear screens displaying a mix of nostalgic old footage and live shots, added layers of depth to the show. I’ve seen 20+ gigs over the last three months, and this one is right up there in the shortlist of the best.

But Sharleen Spiteri’s voice is a spectacle, and all evening she misses not one note. Her powerful, piercing vocal abilities were further proved during a beautiful acoustic version of ‘Put Your Arms Around Me.’ Add the facts together: she played the piano, danced, sang, joked, played guitar… honestly, she’s one of the best British artists around. Maybe underestimated by many, but not by anyone who’s ever seen Texas live.

“Soulful rock belter”

The playlist for the night was too good, without a filler among the 20 tunes. It included the relatively new Northern Soul track ‘Keep On Talking’ which I really liked, and ‘In Our Lifetime’. A song that might pass the memory by, but hear it and you know it. And it sounded rich, mighty and strong tonight.

The main set closed with the soulful rock belter ‘Black Eyed Boy,’ my favourite Texas song that made me a Texas fan as I overplayed it on my Walkman back in the summer of ’97. That made my night, before the iconic ‘Say What You Want’ wrapped up the main performance, leading into a special encore.

“Powerhouse”

After a minute or two of constant cheers, Texas returned to the stage. Spiteri was in an all-leather, Elvis-esque outfit, adding a touch of Vegas glamour to Leeds. Dazzling lights and imagery took hold of the stage, and Texas finished with ‘Inner Smile’ and Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds.’

The gig stretched over two hours and that’s something you don’t really get nowadays. It’s testament to what a professional lot Texas are. Much of the extended runtime came from Spiteri’s interactive storytelling, and we’d been treated to a concert that showcased why Texas continue to be a powerhouse in music.

Can a band who’ve clocked up 35 years go on for another 35?  If only.  I could watch Texas every year. Tonight, we had a celebration of Texas’s life in the music industry, and I think many of us in the FD Arena will remember this one for a long time.

Images: Steve Crabtree