Seal's show is just knockout

Seal

NIA, Birmingham

Some stars medidate to get ready for their gigs, others prefer to prepare with a trip to the bar.

I can tell you that Seal likes nothing better to pump some iron – because he appeared next to me at Birmingham's Malmaison Hotel gym hours before his city concert last night. A few hours later and it was that superb voice he was showing off at his first homecoming gig at the NIA.

He began with a strange statement. "The band and I are like drug addicts." He went on explaining what he meant: they crave the energy of the audience and can't get enough of performing live.

He kicked off with the amazing Killer and managed to silence the entire crowd with a stunning rendition of his worldwide number one Kiss from a Rose. Surprisingly the cover versions he has recently released got some of the best reaction. Everything from Eruption's I can't Stand the Rain to a breathtaking version of James Brown's It's a Mans World made for a very classy evening.

By Steve Denyer.