Madeleine Peyroux (vocal/guitar); Andy Ezrin (keys); Jon Herington (guitar); Paul Frazier (bass guitar); Graham Hawthorne (drums).
(Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Raphaël Perez © 2019 *)
The barflies arrived in time (just) for the main event making Level One of Sage One maybe 90% full. They should have got there earlier...
However, they were in time for the big deal which was a very big deal indeed. M'amselle Peyroux - ok I know she was born in Georgia and lived in Brooklyn but I always think of her as French and she did sing a number in that most musical of languages that could have been created on the boulevards of Paris - was in good voice.
A charismatic blend of jazz, country, folk and blues sung over a groove-making quartet put this on a par with her two previous Sage concerts that I'd been privileged to catch. Unlike so many of today's singers, her voice has identity which, in an era when women vocalists are being served up on a conveyer belt, is quite something.
A mix of originals, a couple of which were new (to me) and a few standards such as the delightful old Astaire number Isn't This a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain? complete with the Irving Berlin verse, Moon River and the finale Careless Love which had solos all round including drums. This brought the house down and the audience demanded more. Well you all know my views on encores - enough is enough! Ok if they pause, nod to each other and give us one more - that's fine but when they troop off stage and wait until the crowd's hands are blistered and their voices hoarse from shouting 'more' before they condescend to trot back on is an ovation too far so I missed the encore which I'm sure would be as good as what I'd already heard.
Oh yes, her patter was also good: "This song is dedicated to my dad who was a drunk. It started when he saw a sign that read 'Drink Canada Dry'..."
Emily Barker (guitar/harmonica/vocals).
I'm like the barflies mentioned in the opening paragraph. When I see the dreaded words Support Act I head for the bar to down a couple of shots. However, this time I wasn't seated at the end of the row and thus unable to make a discreet exit.
Thank you God for acting in my best interests!
Guitar playing Australian singer/songwriters have never featured prominently on my bucket list - until now that is!
Emily Barker changed all that. Interesting songs and a pleasing voice that altered dramatically when she paid tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Sister Goodbye. This was something else. No longer the girl next door this was a gospel hollerin' mama blowing harp like Sonny Terry and strumming guitar like Brownie McGhee.
The set flew past in an inst and it was no surprise that she moved a fair bit of CD and vinyl during the break. If this had been Hollywood the star would have said, "Get rid of her" and the director would have replied (to quote the title of a book/film*) "The kid stays in the picture."
The good news is that the girl, who also provided the music for 9 episodes of the TV series Wallander, is back in the picture at Sage Gateshead in October to launch a duo CD of hers in the Northern Rock Foundation Room.
I'll be there.
Emily graciously consented for me to take a couple of photos. Unfortunately, by 'Royal Command' no photography was allowed in the hall so, once again, I have had to call on our man in Paris, Raphaël Perez, for a photo he shot of Madeleine in the French capital last year.
Lance*The Kid Stays in the Picture by Robert Evans (1994).
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