Mary Coughlan (vcl); Steve Watts (pno); Jamie Lawson (gtr/vcl); Pauline Murray (gtr/vcl).
(Review by Lance.)
Mary Coughlan has lived the life, known the pain and came through it as an artist capable of talking about and overcoming her demons and, ultimately, turning them into some of the most heartfelt and impassioned works of art heard in recent years. This was hardly a jazz gig although the sheer depth of emotion displayed evoked the spirit of Billie Holiday and Judy Garland without sounding remotely like either.
We weren't letting her go that easy and they returned for I'd Rather Go Blind wrapping things up perfectly. Not surprisingly, a lot of CDs were sold afterwards.
(Review by Lance.)
Mary Coughlan has lived the life, known the pain and came through it as an artist capable of talking about and overcoming her demons and, ultimately, turning them into some of the most heartfelt and impassioned works of art heard in recent years. This was hardly a jazz gig although the sheer depth of emotion displayed evoked the spirit of Billie Holiday and Judy Garland without sounding remotely like either.
Coughlan is unique - her own woman - a singer revered the world over who drew a good crowd into Caedmon Hall including some of the few who'd bought tickets for Wednesday night's Darlo gig that was cancelled because of poor ticket sales. No such problem tonight at this Tyneside Irish Festival/Jumpin' Hot Club event, the audience soon filled up the cabaret style set up and when the lady came on for the final set they gobbled up every word from her - blarney and all.
Just a Friend of Mine, a song about a ménage-a-trois, not only had an amusing lyric sung very effectively but also some great piano from Watts, a young man to watch out for. Guitarist Lawson who'd earlier played a solo support slot augmented the duo for a song "written", said Mary, "By my first ex-husband!". Forgotten the title - it could have been Lost Without the Double Cross.
Heartbreak Hotel, just piano and voice, brought forth a delicacy that eluded Elvis all those years ago. Once again Watts knew what's what. Ancient Rain and a poignant rendition of Love Will Tear Us Apart were more cutting edge examples of Coughlan's craft - she gets to the nitty gritty of a sung and makes it her own.
We weren't letting her go that easy and they returned for I'd Rather Go Blind wrapping things up perfectly. Not surprisingly, a lot of CDs were sold afterwards.
The evening had begun with a solo set from the former lead singer of '70s punk band Penetration, Pauline Murray (left), who, 35 years on, didn't look a day older than she did then!
I suspect this was her first solo gig yet she handled it well. Accompanying herself on acoustic guitar Murray's voice retains a punk edge to it and her program of "dark" songs, mainly in a minor key, set the mood for an evening of delightful depression (my phrase). There were few happy songs from any of the three artists yet these songs of inner torment made this audience very happy!
Jamie Lawson had more of a country feel to his voice and the amplified guitar a smoother sound. I particularly liked It's Cold in Ohio (but warm next to you.). It was a good set that whetted our appetites for the "Main Event". In the top photo Jamie is directly behind Coughlan with Watts bringing up the rear.
Lance.
No comments :
Post a Comment