Tami Neilson’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue – Civic Theatre: October 13, 2023

Tami Neilson closed out her Rock ‘n’ Roll Revue tour with a sizzling show at Auckland’s Civic Theatre featuring 80-year-old ‘Queen Of The Mods’ Dinah Lee.

On the back of her 5-month tour of North American Tami returns to celebrate her rock and roll rolls and some of the women who were there at the beginning.

The set the tone, vocal trio The Up-Doos (Aria Jones/Esther Stephens/Liv Tennent) got things rolling with a brief set of girl group classics originally recorded  by The Ronettes, The Chiffons and The Bobbettes.

Then, Dinah Lee strolled on stage singing (You’re Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher and the band, led by guitarist Brett Adams, kicked into high gear.

Dinah was clearly in good spirits and her fans swooned as she sang her first hit, 1964’s Don’t You Know Yockomo. Dinah paid tribute to her old friend and mentor Max Merritt who passed away a few years ago with a version of his 1975 hit Slippin’ Away, aided by Tami Neilson.

“Oh dear, I’m having a good time” deadpanned Dinah as she proceeded to Do The Blue Beat.

“I’m quite stuffed after that” she remarked, “come back and see me again in another 10 years”, Dinah quipped as she and the band closed her portion of the show with Reet Petite.

A quick break for ice cream and red wine and then its showtime.

Tami comes out blasting both barrels with Big Boss Mama. The Up-Doos are singing and swinging and the band is rocking. Along with the formidable Mr. Adams, we hear Finn Scholes on trumpet and keys, Chris Matthews on bass and that’s Tom Broome laying down the slinky beat that becomes Ain’t My Job with Tami on harmonica.

It looks as though Tami has cherry-picked the best rockers from her catalogue…Queenie, Queenie from Chickaboom!, Walk (Back To You Arms) from Dynamite!, Kitty Cat from Sassafrass!

Early in the set we are treated to some special guests…the children of Tami, The Up-Doos and the band are on stage to help with Queenie, Queenie as Tom pounds out that Bo Diddley beat.

Then Tami tips her hat to three pioneering women of rock & roll, Wanda Jackson, Big Mama Thornton and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Hearing Tami belt out Hound Dog was worth the price of admission alone.

And Tami has plenty to say…commenting on Elvis, dissing disgraced Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner and alluding to a certain “orange-skinned Politian” before playing Kitty Cat.

A pulsing Holy Moses closed out the set, but then Tami was back with Dinah to treat us to a celebratory version of She’s A Mod.

Good times were had by all. The audience was thrilled and Tami and Dinah clearly bonded on this brief tour. We’re lucky to be able to see and hear them together.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Brenna Jo Gotje:

Tami Neilson:

Dinah Lee:

The Up-Doos:

Tami Neilson Setlist:

1. Big Boss Mama
2. Ain’t My Job
3. Come Over
4. Queenie, Queenie
5. Walk (Back To Your Arms)
6. Didn’t It Rain
7. Hard Headed Woman
8. Hound Dog
9. Woo Hoo
10. Careless Woman
11. Kitty Cat
12. Holy Moses
13. She’s A Mod

Dinah Lee setlist:

1. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher & Higher)
2. Don’t You Know Yockomo
3. Slippin’ Away
4. In The Midnight Hour
5. Do The Blue Beat
6. Reet Petite