Concert Review
Vanessa Williams
Seneca Niagara Events Center
Niagara Falls, NY
Saturday December 28, 2013
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The Seneca Niagara Events Center hosted their final show for 2013 last week. Miss America 1984, Vanessa Williams performed before a large audience and showed why she is acknowledged as one of the most successful Miss America’s ever in the entertainment field.
Williams had a ton of family in the crowd including her mother, a retired music teacher who was actually from the Niagara Falls area. Williams went to Syracuse University and has always had a New York connection making this show seem like a homecoming of sorts.
The Stevie Wonder penned “The Real Thing,” also the name of her most recent release, kicked things off followed by “Dreamin” which was her first top ten hit. She also covered another Wonder song “Send One Your Love,” later on in the show.
The middle portion of the show featured Williams covering some of her favorite songs, many of which were recorded in the 1970s including “Everlasting Love” by one of her idols Chaka Khan.
Williams sounded in excellent voice throughout the ninety minute show and her backing band led by music director Rob Mathes helped to propel the show to a higher level. Mathes also wrote “Star Bright” a song that originally appeared on her first Christmas album. Williams performed the song at the request of her mother since it was still near the holiday season.
Williams saved her signature song “Save The Best For Last” for her final song during the main set. She returned with an encore of “Betcha Never” that sent the faithful home happy.
Set List
The Real Thing
Deamin’
Love Is
Colors of the Wind
Sweetest Days
The Way That You Love
The Comfort Zone
Everlasting Love (Chaka Khan cover)
Just Friends
With You I’m Born Again (Billy Preston & Syreeta cover)
Send One Your Love
Constantly
Star Bright
Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home/Come Rain or Come Shine/Peel Me a Grape (Johnny Mercer covers)
Work to Do
Oh How the Years Go By
Save the Best For Last
Encore
Betcha Never
