Their show is called Abra Cadabra, a tribute to Swedish supergroup ABBA.
And while rather than impersonate the 1970s pop band, members of Vancouver’s Abra Cadabra celebrate ABBA with a tight and talented musical presentation, puncuated by powerful lead vocalisrt Jeanette O’Keeffe, a founder of the group 10 years ago with lead guitarist Jonas Falle.
A predominantly 50- to 60-something packed house Saturday night danced, weaved and sang along to monster hits like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Chiquitita, Does Your Mother Know and Waterloo.
O’Keeffe brought the house down with a stirring rendition of Winner Takes It All, earning a standing ovation.
“Thank you, that touches my heart,” said O’Keeffe, who played Friday night at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster.
There was a brief story behind most songs and O’Keefe explained how ABBA had won the Eurovision Song Contest in April, 1974 with the song Waterloo, which went on to be a major hit across Europe and in Australia and New Zealand.
However, the immediate follow-up singles did not meet with the same success, and it wasn’t until over a year later that I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, SOS and Mamma Miabecame world-wide hits and reignited interest in the band.
Abra Cadabra, with sparkling costumes and high energy, performed for almost 90 minutes after keyboardist Ryan Langevin sweetly reeled off Elton John and Billy Joel greatest hits for 45 minutes. He was at his best on Crocodile Rock and Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting
Langevin has had a passion for the music of both Elton John and Billy Joel since his youth, and has spent the past decade teaching piano and voice coupled with his experience in groups spanning a spectrum of genres.