Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart - The Arches, Glasgow - 7th December 2005
Review by Mike Ritchie
They say they’re on the road because the kids have grown up and their followers are certainly pleased they’ve left the homestead in Nashville for their latest visit. Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart looked far from homesick as they swept through an impressive set, mixing new and old recordings with a couple of majestic covers. ON stage it was musical bliss and when they stepped OFF it to wander through the audience, seated at candle-lit tables, to perform their opening encore song “When I Walk Alone†from latest CD “S&M Communion Bread†it was a lovely moment that brought them even closer to their fans. This walkabout effectively summed up the evening in an atmospheric setting that even the trains rolling overhead into Central Station couldn’t mar. The duo gel and deliver songs that are warm-hearted and none too taxing; some might say it’s a play-safe approach far from the cutting edge but that overlooks Stacey’s tender and now less kooky vocals and husband Mark’s exquisite guitar playing that bestowed each song with depth and subtlety. Also, their harmonies prevented any suggestion that they were coasting as their voices enveloped the songs creating an emotional stranglehold. I got the feeling throughout that if neither had a guitar to play they would hug each other instead and sing. Stacey, on tracks such as Lay Down from their last CD “Never Gonna Let You Go,†tip toed through the lyrics edging towards her husband like a lover illicitly creeping down a darkened hallway to her beau’s bedroom. Must Be Love, from the live double CD “Must Be Live†further proved their intimacy, a five-minute song that left no-one in any doubt about their feelings for one another.
Drive By Truckers, it ain’t. But they know how to vary things as well – the Townes Van Zandt “If I Needed You†cover was brilliant and they kept George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps†simple. Mark’s bottleneck playing on Lookin’ For Fools Gold to accompany his lead vocals gave the song a dirty bluesy growl. On Maybe That’s Just Me, the voices dovetailed like Christmas mince pies and cream, accompanied by a chunky yet mellow rhythm; I Don’t Want To Have To Run from “S&M….†continued that lush seam. Between the songs, there were anecdotes such as the one about rough Nashville bars where, if you turn up without a knife or a gun at the door, the management would give you one. Mark told us he was on the Chet Atkins diet because he was a “picky eater†and the audience groaned, rightly so. Their songs may be uncomplicated but their sincerity and the way they were performed never wavered being meaningful. It was hugely enjoyable. If I was ever going to have a house concert then the mighty Neil Young, Tom Waits and Steve Earle would be high on my wish list – but Steve’s wee sister and her man wouldn’t be far behind. |
| |
Embrace - Manchester Evening News Arena - 16th December 2005
Review by Dave Adair
The question that was glossed onto everybody’s lips like Bet Lynch lippy, was can the down to earth Yorkshireman pull it off in front of a large crowd in an arena? The early utilization of the steady and favourite ’All You Good, Good People’ embodied the crooning spirit and uplifting nature of the band and it rubbed off on the crowd early on. Despite teething technical difficulties that had the amps cackling at each other, as if to say; “what the f*@k are we doing here?†The Danny McNamara led quintet fought off these Gremlins to produce a vibrant and heartfelt version of ‘Someday’ from the gripping ‘Out Of Nothing’ album. This song gave the first impression that they may just pull it off in a strange surroundings for them, as no matter what people say about Embrace, no one can claim that they don’t put heart and soul into everything they do. Not content to rest on their laurels having managed to bag a gig in a venue that Danny himself thought would never be possible for a band like Embrace, it turns out that this has given the band renewed vigour. They proudly paraded a new number; ‘No Use Crying’ that was as frenetic as Embrace get, serving as one of many examples of tight and faultless guitar stroking from Richard McNamara. The Chris Martin penned ‘Gravity’, featured catchy angelic imagery on the monitors to create a serene mood to a peaceful song. Another new offering ‘Nature's Law’ that was doused in mancunian influences from the Smith’s to the haunted cries of Ian Brown; implying that the doomsayers may have a little longer to wait before they see the end of Embrace. Everyone rose up in the encore for ‘Ashes’ that saw 10,500 people yelling with all their might, to visibly touch the humble Mr. McNamara. The floating and sombre ‘The Good Will Out’ put a lid on one of the most important and dare I say it: successful evenings in Embrace’s intriguing career. |
| |
Blondie / Hugh Cornwall - Shepherds Bush Empire - 17th December 2005
Review by Keith Hargreaves
Seventies icons enjoy end of term gig. The Shepherds Bush empire is a great venue for live music ,the ghost of Terry Wogans residency long since chased away by a vibrant and healthy programme which usually includes many greats on the way up and some previous greats still able to pull a genuine rock crowd rather than a greatest hits audience . Witness Jeff Tweedys recent show and look….. Jethro Tull in the spring ! Hugh Cornwall comes on to minimal applause and proceeded, with his trio, to play some bland new songs and some naggingly familiar Stranglers ones through a very muddy sound and without frankly any of the venom or passion that made his songs memorable …….and No More Heroes without those keyboards ….I think not . Blondie, however a slighty different proposition , for starters not blond – redhead. They breezed on to a great sound and cut into the night with no chit chat for at least the first four numbers . This was a tight well oiled machine repeating the set they had polished throughout their tour of which this was the last date. The band were note perfect and Harrys voice was wonderful given her years and the idiom within which she sings but and there is a but ; this was their last date , it should have been a celebration , perhaps they were tired and just wanted to go home , whatever ; it just didn’t take off .There were no moments when you felt the room soar or a grin forced its way onto your face that you couldn’t suppress . ‘Fade away and Radiate’ an album track from Parallel Lines nearly got there but then was reshackled by the practised machine as it headed towards another finish . Shame really . So end of term reports as follows ; Cornwall Hugh ‘B – ‘ Trading on former glories needs to apply himself to retain any credibility. Blondie ‘ B+’ Well rehearsed but lacking inspiration must re invent or risk fading away . Merry Christmas everyone. |
| |
Hayseed Dixie with Peter Bruntnell - Bedford Esquires - 10th December 2005
Review by Keith Hargreaves
Rednecks roar to a questionable triumph. Bedford’s Esquires club is what a live venue should be like: peeling walls, small stage, good sound and an overall air of decay mixed with beer slops. In a step up from their usual more intimate venues, EastWest Promotions booked the frankly bonkers hayseed Dixie for a Christmas bash. They also booked Pete Bruntnell for a solo support slot; two such unlikely bedfellows you could not imagine but it kinda worked. Picture if you will a sold out venue packed to the gills with punks, Goths, Rockers, Metalheads and every other minor social movement plus a smattering of American servicemen out to ‘raise a little hell’. On to the stage steps up Pete Bruntnell with a guitar and harp and just with a straightforward delivery of strong material arrests the attention of the diverse onlookers and by the final song elicits warm and affectionate applause. A lesser performer with lesser material would have bottled it.
Then came the four self styled rednecks of the apocalypse. Bass, banjo, guitar/fiddle and mandolin. They opened with AC/DC’s ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap‘ and never looked back. The crowd loved it and the songs came thick and fast Ace of Spades, Black Dog etc. but the audience interaction between songs after initial amusement started to look less like irony and more like the genuine opinions of a clearly talented bunch . Even in this lad mag age the relentless misogyny wore very thin. However a one joke act (playing Blue grass versions of Heavy metal songs) is lifted way above the banal by the commitment and sheer skill of the musicianship on show. These boys give it their all for one and a half hours at full speed and everyone leaves happy, sweaty and wide eyed – their version of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs has to be seen to be believed. So a great gig marred only by the bands failure to recognise that irony can be subtle and still effective. |
