Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke, Aladdin Sane and The Goblin King, with so many iconic looks and eras defining one musician however does a David Bowie impersonator choose what exactly to impersonate? If you’re Jeremy Wright, the man behind the microphone in Serious Moonlight – A Tribute to David Bowie, you just try to work in as many hit albums from A(laddin) to Z(iggy) as you can while maintaining the best image of the entertainer via exploration of his songs.
“I’m drawn to different elements from different eras; in the Serious Moonlight tour, he has a couple of different levels,” explains Wright ahead of tonights extravaganza inside Centrepointe Theatre.
“He’s there to have a fantastic time with the audience, but there’s also a darker underpinning. That complexity remains throughout each era. I love some of his more recent work, as well — The Next Day is a really diverse offering, with a lot to love.”
Wright first started stepping into the many guises of Bowie back in 2015 as a way to understand more about the artist. To him, tributes can be more than just becoming somebody famous for a few hours and delivering a show fans of the act may not have a chance to see in reality. Being a tribute act is an art form when done properly and allows him to experience the music on a deeper level. It’s a love that has come across to any audience that has had a chance to see him perform glam rock staples like “Star Man”, the pumping 80s pop-funk of “Let’s Dance” or the brash thrash of “Rebel Rebel”.
Much like choosing a favourite Bowie image, asking Wright to hit you with what tune he most enjoys opens a lot of possibilities.
“’Life on Mars?’ is certainly one of the top ones — but I also love a broad spectrum of his tunes. ‘Let’s Dance’ has an amazing energy to it, whereas ‘Wild Is The Wind’ (technically a cover) is haunting and melancholy. He had a way of keeping his works ambiguous, so they could touch you no matter what.”
As it relates to researching Bowie for the show, Wright admits he has to become a bit obsessive. He watches a lot of videos and experiments with his voice to find the unmistakable sound that can only be Bowie. Well, Bowie and a good impersonator. It doesn’t stop there, either. You need the moves and even nuances like how a microphone is held. It’s these little pieces that make for the encompassing feeling that crowds are seeing the real deal.
“He has a very aggressive energy,” says Wright. “Because of his extensive background in mime work all his movements are practiced and graceful. He has such power in his delivery, but without being threatening. That’s a tough balance to strike.”
In putting together Serious Moonlight, Wright had a lot to fall back on by way of knowledge on what a perfect tribute concert needs to have. He didn’t start out with Bowie but in a Beatles show that took audiences on a journey through some of the Fab Four’s most famous moments. Knowing that amount of costume changes to put on a multi-era shift might distract from Bowie’s tunes, Wright settled on the Serious Moonlight tour mounted in 1983 in support of the album “Let’s Dance”.
Asked why this particular tour, Wright quickly states that the musicians was “in his element, full of confidence, and the arrangements are full of aggressive energy. It’s actually a ritual of sorts. And I find myself firmly aligned with what I perceive to be his focus.”
That arrangement is captured in the 11-piece ensemble joining Wright’s Bowie on stage. There are no backing tracks. Everything is authentic right down to the memorable choreography.
“If you were there, or you’ve seen the concert footage, you’ll be taken back,” says Wright adding that “whether you were there or not, you’ll be moved, and you’ll forget you’re at a tribute. It’s full of energy, and built for moments. Come soak up our energy.”
Serious Moonlight – A Tribute to David Bowie is presented by Impress Productions and will be a one night only showcase at Centrepointe theatre tonight at 8PM. Tickets are on sale now.
