JUSTIN Utley was welcomed to Brighton’s newly refurbished Rialto Theatre by a packed and enthusiastic mainly gay audience. This highly talented musician – singer, guitarist, pianist, activist and lovely gay guy- enthralled his audience as his life unfolded through his music.
His act took a brilliant form of telling his story in musical narrative. Pouring his heart out, often through humour, he took us to places that were uncomfortable, challenging, sexual and revealing.
Brought up as a Mormon in Utah USA his tale exposed the unforgiving nature of some of the challenges of being a Mormon – his father’s attitudes, his mother’s journey, the hypocrisy of religious bigotry towards sexuality and biblical practice of polygamy brought up a number of delicious songs and brilliant audience atmosphere. A very special evening.
Justin currently lives in New York, has positively rejected his religion, though not his family, and now celebrates his gayness through his music and high profile campaigns for LGBT equality.
He generously donated half the proceeds of this gig to support Hand in Hand- the biggest ever UK and Ireland LGBT choral festival coming to Brighton on the weekend of June 12-14.
Don’t miss the chance to see some of the very best Choirs in the UK perform at the Hand in Hand concert in the Brighton Dome, Saturday 13th June 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10/£14/£17 and are available from 01273 709709 or www.brightondome.org
REVIEWER: Finola Brophy, Co-Chair Hand In Hand Brighton
Given his background, to describe Justin Utley’s music as “a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll” (to quote the Donny and Marie Osmond hit) might almost be thought an insult.
The hunky singer/songwriter from Utah very publicly ‘self-excommunicated’ himself from the Mormon church after enduring its ex-gay conversion therapy following two years of mission service. The resulting performer is a world away from Mormonism’s famous Osmond family, with clean-cut toothy smiles replaced by rough edges and a down to earth reality.
Out and proud, Justin Utley remains a man on a mission, with activism for civil rights and LGBTQ equality firmly on the agenda. Unsurprisingly, this dedication is found in his music but these are not so much songs of protest as songs about real lives being lived in a real world.
The immediately likeable personality allows for some daring when it comes to choice of songs. Undoubtedly, numbers such as the acclaimed Stand for Something pack a punch musically and lyrically with the message of standing up for what you believe but as he sings you sense Justin Utley is investing more in the performance than simply what makes a good song – these are songs that tell his story, react against the bad and encourage the positive.
The stories behind many of the songs are as interesting as the music is catchy: Goodbye, Goodbye, for example, is written and sung with a deep understanding following a brief and far from affirming foray into relationships with the opposite sex (“You should never make someone a priority if they’re only considering you an option,” he says by way of introduction).
If Brighton bears were enticed in to this concert persuaded more by Justin Utley being drop dead gorgeous, they undoubtedly left inspired, challenged and affirmed by a beautiful, affable, charismatic and engaging performer who can’t come back too soon.
REVIEWER: David Guest, www.bemyguest.org.uk
Justin performed at the Rialto Theatre, Brighton on March 15, 2015
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