Soul state of confusion
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday November 13, 2009
Crooner Seal needs to keep that voice rested, writes Brett Winterford. Built in 1929, the State Theatre, with its gorgeous art deco features, artworks and Koh-I-Nor cut crystal chandelier, is the grand dame of Sydney's performance venues.It was good enough for James Brown, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello and Brian Wilson but Seal €“ in front of whom I'm sitting at a pre-tour promotional interview €“ is about to baulk at it.We are talking about whether Seal will bring a string or horn section to replicate the bold recordings of classics covered on his latest album, Soul. A horn section, I suggest, would sound dynamite in the State Theatre, where he is booked to play his first-ever Sydney shows.€śSo everyone keeps saying,€ť Seal replies coolly, and asks its capacity.€śMaybe two-and-a-half, maybe 3000?€ť I guess.He frowns. €śIt's probably more than that,€ť he says. €śI'd be surprised.€ťNow Seal is staring through me, to a door beyond which publicists and tour managers are pretending not to listen. I notice how broad his shoulders are, his piercing eyes and his huge hands.€śMaybe you're right,€ť I say. €śIt might not be the biggest but it's the grandest, without ever losing intimacy ...€ť€śFRAN!€ť Seal demands of the hidden publicist. €śWhat's the capacity of the State Theatre?€ťImmediately, Fran, and an amiable English tour manager, named Richie, rush to the aid of their irritated star. I freeze, trying to render myself invisible.€śThe State Theatre? About three [thousand],€ť says one, of the 2000-seat venue. And the other: €śAbout three, three-and-a-half.€ťSeal looks unimpressed.€śYeah, about three,€ť Fran repeats, apprehensively.Richie senses tension €“ and moves to settle his star.€śPerth is the biggest venue, it's about seven,€ť he says.€śYeah, it's beautiful, the setting is absolutely stunning,€ť Franthen splutters.But to hell with the flowery stuff; Seal wants numbers. Richie takes a breath and gives the full overview.€śWe're playing between three-and-a-half and 7000 the whole tour,€ť he says.€śAnd how many nights are we at the State?€ť Seal demands.Fran and Richie again start tripping on each other's words as they discuss the options.Seal has barely raised his voice and is still seated. But I get the sense everybody is quietly, but desperately, trying to prevent him from losing it.His minders are in damage-control mode, eyeing my tape recorder on the table.I've been spotted.Seal thinks he deserves a stadium show and isn't shy about saying so, even in front of a journalist.€śCan't we move this one?€ť the singer demands.Silence.Seal soon turns to face me again but with a look that guarantees he'll be taking this matter up with his staff again later.Without meaning to, I also find myself placating him. I wonder aloud whether several smaller shows might enable his family to see more of Sydney?It's sinking in that I've heard too much and Seal moves to justify the last five minutes. He wants to play bigger shows, he explains reasonably, because this gives his voice more rest.€śThe last thing that you're able to do when you're touring is go sightseeing,€ť he says.€śYou're getting rest. It's quite taxing singing for two hours night after night.€ťSeal has pulling power, of course. How else did he score four gigs at the State Theatre? If you are lucky enough to be at one of his last two Sydney shows, be sure to applaud with gusto. Then perhaps Seal can close his eyes and dream of stadiums.SEALMonday and Tuesday, 8pm, State Theatre, 136 100, $119.90-$159.90.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald
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