Ferrari began her set with a slower yet crisp version of the Eurthymics classic “Sweet Dreams,” as the stage was graced in yellow and pink lights. “How are you doing Mulcahy’s?” she asked.
“Here’s a little Journey for you,” she added, prior to breaking into the upbeat and fun “Separate Ways.” “Any Pat Benatar fans out there?” she asked, and she went on to belt out a rocking rendition of “Heartbreaker,” which she ended as a crowd sing-along, that featured Chris Ferrari on lead guitar.
After a sip of water, one of her talented band members, Bob Bellucci, paid homage to Sting and The Police with “Message in a Bottle,” as she joined him on harmonies.
She immediately broke into an uptempo version of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” where she had the Mulcahy’s crowd clapping along towards the end. She tipped her hat to Melissa Etheridge with a soaring cover of “Come to My Window,” which featured her incredible lung power as she held the “anyway” note for well over 10 seconds. This latter rock tune was a dedication for a fan’s birthday.
Ferrari showed her sassy side on her original recording “My Name Is Karma,” which was a spitfire tune from her newest EP. She noted that she is originally from Suffolk County, and this marks her first time playing in Nassau County at Mulcahy’s.
During “Roadhouse Blues,” she invited an audience member on stage with her to dance along, and she went on to display some angst on Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” which she dubbed as her “ladies anthem.”
She delivered yet another fun Pat Benatar song “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” as her husband Chris rocked the electric guitar. “Are there any Aerosmith fans out there?” she asked, prior to belting out their inspirational hit “Dream On,” with her piercing pipes, as green lights dimmed on the stage.
After a sip of water, she honored Janis Joplin with a mellow version of “Me and Bobby McGee,” a classic tune that was penned by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, the newly inducted member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. “Come sing with me now,” she said midway though the song.
One of the highlight vocals from the first half of her show was her cover of 4 Non Blondes’s “What’s Up,” which she listed as one of her all-time favorite songs, and rightfully so.
She closed with a closing version of Heart’s “Barracuda,” and after introducing her gifted band members, she concluded with The Who’s “Reign On Me,” which was sheer perfection for her grand finale of her first set.
After a 15 minute intermission, Ferrari returned for her Madonna tribute act, which included such smash hits as a refreshing version of “Material Girl,” “Burning Up,” and the infectious “Dress You Up.” Most impressive about Ferrari is that she even dressed like Madonna did in the 80s.
She underwent an outfit change to perform her popular dance number “Vogue.” Other noteworthy Madonna classics in her set included “Lucky Star,” “Get Into the Groove,” as well as “La Island Bonita” and the gorgeous ballad “Crazy For You.” It was followed by the fan-favorite “Like a Virgin,” and she closed with “Express Yourself” and “Holiday.”
The Verdict
Overall, Amber Ferrari was phenomenal at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall. She was truly able to give the Wantagh audience a night of 80s music and Madonna tunes to remember. Her stage presence was strong, and her gracious and bubbly personality showcased throughout the evening. She was able to make the crowd feel at home. Vocally, she is in a league of her own. She is a mixture of Pat Benatar, Heart, Melissa Etheridge and Madonna, all blended into one multifaceted Long Island artist. Her talent is extremely talented and they are all worth seeing live whenever they are playing in the area. Her live show at Mulcahy’s earned 5 out of 5 stars.
