MUSIC REVIEW: Meat Loaf, Summer Pops, Liverpool

Jul 3 2008 By Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

Air punching throughout the audience rocked with almost as much ferocity as the main man himself. Meatloaf’s effort can never be doubted an last night he bent double as he reached for the high notes leaving visible pools of sweat on the stage floor.

The highlight of the night came when he donned an army hat, lumberjack shirt and lugged a coolbox on stage at the beginning of Deadringer for Love. As the three guitarists and rock chicks led into the song he delved into the hamper pulled out a cold one and downed it.

After this rock and roll excess he changed pace by slipping into a dinner jacket for Paradise on the Dashboard Light. Again the audience lapped it up.

Rarely has a performer commanded so much affection from his public as fans leapt to their feet and sang full pelt the classics I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Bat Out Of Hell.

There aren’t may performers who successfully manage to combine a melodic voice and cracking lyrics over banging drums and rocking guitar riffs.

His aging vocal chords seemed untroubled by either low range belters or high pitched screams.

And in a day and age of youth worship crack-smoking puny popstars, it’s definitely time to inject more meat into music - more Meat Loaf to be exact.

See the Meat Loaf at the Pops picture gallery here.