Rollicking soul and meaty vocals, peppered throughout with quintessentially Jewish humour. Danny Toeman and the Love Explosion fly the flag for contemporary blue-eyed soul. 

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Making his dramatic entrance as his band played the Rocky theme tune, Danny Toeman discarded his orange cape on the floor of the Pizza Express High Holborn stage. With baggy trousers, a maroon blazer, and dishevelled hair, Toeman is full of self-deprecating Jewish humour. Hilarity filled the intervals between each song: at one point, Toeman warned his audience that there would be neither a dry eye nor a dry seat in the house by the close of the show.

However, for all the Jack Black-styled whimsicality, Toeman is a musician’s musician. And with some impressive credits to his name, having supported the likes of Charles Bradley, Betty Wright, Incognito, Robert Cray, and Loose Ends. His band the Love Explosion – named suggestively when they realised that broadcaster Clare Balding would be introducing them at an event – are a talented bunch of fellow North Londoners. Sam Warner on trumpet stood out particularly.

Calling himself the ‘King of North London Soul’, Toeman sings with gruff, guttural tone and unexpectedly high falsettos. There is a sense of uncanny familiarity to Toeman’s songwriting. Toeman and Love Explosion combine the melodic hooks of Stax and Motown, the swampy arrangements of Creedence Clearwater Revival, and the throaty vocal stylings of Wilson Pickett and Joe Cocker. The chugging guitar work from Toeman and Jack Gillen added a rock and roll edge.

Behind the shtick there is also an underlying vulnerability. ‘She’s Got Something About Her‘, a romantic mid-tempo with a Motown cadence, saw Toeman emoting with honesty and sensitivity. His first act finale was the touching ‘Give it All Up (Mr. Showtime)’, an ode to the audiences who have supported Toeman throughout his career.

The second act highlights were the the horn-laden musical labyrinth of ‘Soul Candy’ and ‘Shake the Blues’, Toeman’s closing number. ‘Shake the Blues’ was the perfect remedy to exorcise the demons of ‘Blue Monday’ – allegedly the most depressing day of the year – with its quick-paced, tight structure and imperative lyrics. ‘You gotta shake the blues /  Outta your shoes’

The Full Band

Danny Toeman – Vocals and Guitar
Ricky Kinrade – Bass
Timur Djahit – Drums
Andy Liddell – Sax
Jack Gillen – Guitar
Sam Warner – Trumpet