Wanda Jackson / Wes Pudsey & The Sonic Aces

Andy J Ryan Mar 26, 2023

Wanda Jackson - Gaelic Theatre, 9 June 2007

"In 1954, one woman changed music history." A crowd resembling the extras for American Graffiti lapped up the enduring legacy of the queen of rock.†

The souped-up Wes Pudsey and the Sonic Aces provided a smooth, streamlined entree to the evening (and would also return later to be the backing band for the lady of the hour). They got the slick-backed crowd swinging and twisting with abandon.

The crowd warmly greeted the 69-year-old Wanda Jackson, who casually introduced herself as "the nice lady with the nasty voice". Jackson had a mischievous twinkle in her eye almost matched by the sparkle in her ears, and was quite happy to chat openly about her astounding career. The show was almost half-talking, half tunes, part performance, part biography, and when she did launch into song she amiably shimmied and shuffled about making slightly reserved - but still lavish - gestures that sent her tassles flying.

Everybody was hooked on her every captivating word, and most were simply awed to be in the presence of such an influential and important figure in music. And really, who am I to attempt to review her, when Elvis Presley once praised her musical talents with a passing, "You got what it takes."

Jackson unleashed her trademark growl for her breakthrough hit, 'Let's Have a Party', and revisited her time spent touring with Elvis - for whom she was once His Latest Flame - by covering 'Heartbreak Hotel' and 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On'.
Jackson happily pointed out the folly of her song 'Fujiyama Mama' which was number one hit in Japan despite its mention of the wartime bombings. "I don't think they understood the lyrics," she explained.
There was a touching gospel interlude as Jackson described and sang about her best day of all, the day "she saw the light". This pure moment contrasted with her waving off a slight technical hitch with a cheeky, "Oh, I've blown plenty of mics before."

It was a night to marvel and admire this living embodiment of music history before us. Every song had a story, and every story contained a defining moment of modern music.