On Thursday July 8, ‘80s pop icon Tiffany brought her Shadows tour to Cincinnati performing a loud, rocking but intimate show at the Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati for an all-ages group of energetic fans.
It was an underground show, literally, and an evening of nostalgia and new music with Tiffany singing the classics along with new tunes from this year’s Pieces of Me and the upcoming Shadows album. Bringing the noise were members of L.A. Guns.
Most in the crowd looked to have been alive in the ‘80s while others may have come for curiosity or parental encouragement. Those that only knew her as the ‘80s mall queen were suitably and surprisingly schooled with a high energy, emotional rock show with ambience, atmosphere and showmanship. Tiffany herself, jokingly said, yes, I really can sing.
The show was done part storytellers-style with electric guitars as she told tales about songs, being on the road, recording and a continuing unintentional makeup tutorial due to an unrelenting eyelash. The evening didn’t carry the usual song, song, say hello, song, song concert format rather a much more stream of conscious, reacting to things in the moment, on the fly, feel with fan interaction. She talked to the crowd like they were old friends getting back together after a year of silence and seclusion.
One line particularly hit home, getting a reaction, was her saying she was genuinely happy to be playing again, regardless of venue size, as the smaller rooms gave her a chance to have a whatever happens, happens show and the pandemic had unfortunately put several venues out of business, a sad reality. Though later in the show she shared a funny camping-related Covid story about getting robbed and the thieves taking upholstery but leaving beer.
The evening felt part musical and part spirit revival while on other songs she blasted out emotion impressing several fans with her range and what she could do on stage touring extensively for four years prior to the end of 2019.
From the first song to the last the audience saw that the once, pop princess had morphed into a honky-tonk, hair whipping, queen with rock n’ roll roar and gypsy-like swagger. There were occasional glimpses of her ‘80s innocence and a few funny F-bombs later in the show. She appeared impassioned, almost possessed during a few slower, serious tunes channeling the spirits of certain ‘60s sirens while playing the perfect host/MC during rocking tunes and the classics.
The squeaky clean teen was gone replaced by a mature songstress with gypsy spirit and a diva’s gleam. For a girl that once toured with New Kids on the Block at their height, she could probably upstage all five now with minimal effort.
Shadows will be out later this year and by the end of the show, the room was hungry for it.
Opening with new single “Hey Baby” the show got off to a dancing, clapping start with guitar attitude and the first musical peak to the uninitiated.
There were moments with short glimpses and shadows of the teen princess in the rocker before us.
The set was an update and major schooling on all things Tiffany, from modern music to vintage MTV videos. Those that lost track of her work after the ‘80s were visibly and audibly impressed, others somewhat stunned with several impressed fans saying ‘Damn!’ and ‘Holy Shit.’
Hair jokes were made with a ‘80s style hair bob and one of the most evil, drama-causing eyelashes ever dealt with in public or on stage.
“Beautiful” had a poppy sway and ‘80s echo, with a gypsy-like swing and spirit. She even went live on her Patrean while singing.
Black clad bassist Johnny Martin from L.A. guns did a nice jazzy impromptu jam while she went backstage for an impromptu fixer upper. A lady in the audience offered glue to help, earning gratitude and a free shirt. Parts of the evening became part comedy and part makeup tutorial.
She let the crowd have it lyrically on “King of Lies.”
The vibe in the room was like a social renewal and in part was, with the pandemic cloud still hovering, it was a return to public, almost maskless gathering and seeing live music.
She told a funny story about Stevie Nicks wearing a parka looking like an Ewok asking her about HER life and music, giving Tiffany a huge inner fan girl moment.
Things got epic and emotional on “Feels like a Storm.”
“Could’ve Been” was the first trip down memory lane as she sang up and down the aisles serenading the most animated, dedicated fans, followed by “I Saw Him Standing There.”
She said that “Bed of Nails” along with “Could’ve Been” were both recorded in one take, impressing the crowd. What she did the first time is what you hear.
Things slowed down to an acoustic, MTV unplugged pace on “You’re Everything.” “Lost Inside” sang about fake L.A. people, followed by the funny Covid camping story.
Everybody got up and danced like ‘80s kids again for the closer, “I Think We’re Alone Now.”
Images courtesy of Chipster PR & Consulting Inc
