IT was like sharing a pint with an old friend as Motown legend Smokey Robinson regaled the audience with stories of a golden era.
The Symphony Hall concert was more like an evening of entertainment than a traditional gig as the star spent a good portion of the set laughing and joking with the crowd.
In a show jam packed with his catalogue of hits, he told the crowd of his friendships with Motown label-mates Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
You could almost smell the adoration from the crowd as the soul icon received his first standing ovation within the first few songs.
His unique sense of style has not wavered with age as he opened the show in a floor-length satin coat and trousers, changing later to a pair of tight blue sequined trousers.
The crowd went wild for his best known hits Tears of a Clown, Tracks of My Tears and Being With You.
But a showstopper was his rendition of My Girl, which he wrote for The Temptations, and immediately got the crowd on its feet.
He was also joined on stage by Miracles guitarist Marv Tarplin who helped pen some of Robinson's biggest hits.
There is no denying the legendary status of Robinson, but some aspects of the show felt a little like panto as he involved the crowd in a singing competition and put on a video of himself introducing his next song.
