Reviews
Artists: Lou Brown
Venue: Mr Kyps
Town: Poole
Date: 28th April
Website:
www.loubrownmusic.com
It was one of those once in three year events at Mr Kyps on Wednesday, local lass made good, Lou Brown was launching her new album, "Calm The Rising Waters". In the three years since "What Are You Singing About" Lou has toured the States, supported the likes of Boo Hewerdine and Clive Gregson, the latter producing the new album and is now being booked on her own headlining tours. It was fair to say that you knew this was going to be a special night the minute you walked in, you could feel it in the air.
Compere for the night was a stalwart of the Poole/Bournemouth singer/songwriter scene, Peter Read, who also kicked off the night with three numbers of his own.
Truth be told it initially looked like he was letting the occasion get to him. There was a hint of nervousness in his first song, at one point you could almost feel him falter, but like a true pro he stuck to it. The warmth of applause he received seemed to work magic on him. You could visibly see him relax and the weight of the world drop from his shoulders.
Having found his stride, he delivers the next two songs with a real sense of precision. When at his best, there's a real warmth to Peter Read's sound and delivery, its like the smile on his face comes through his vocal chords and into the audience.
Following Peter was a Pompey based act, Leigh Mary Stokes, performing as a three piece, having left her drummer at home for the evening. I was immediately struck by the similarities with Kate Nash, particularly in the vocal style. I guess it's a little unfair that I heard Kate Nash first, had I heard them the other way around, I'd have said that Nash has a touch of the Stokes about her, their evolution is similar not the same.
Well one thing that is similar is the quality of performance, both artists know how to relate to an audience. In many ways it was a night of smiles, Leigh Mary seemed to be beaming away throughout most of the set, at least when she pulled away from the microphone.
Like a lot of artists these days, Leigh Mary Stokes performs really tight to the mic. I can understand why artists do it, but it does lose them a point of contact with the audience, communication isn't all verbal and as a punter you no longer catch the facial expressions that deliver the words.
Stokes leads a tight ship, particularly guitarist Christopher Pitt, who would seem to be a top sidesman, delivering a crisp, sharp performance that's full of great licks, but restrained enough not to detract from the lead singer. It seems like a band where egos are checked in at the door and the focus is on sounding like the best band they can possibly be.
The sound is on the more indie side of things and you could feel them band bringing the room up. There was a short plug for their own EP, "Best Served With A Cup Of Tea", released on One Above and then it was time for the main event.
Lou was billed as Lou Brown & The Makeshift Family band, which on the night consisted of a whose who of the conurbation's finest musicians and a guest appearance from album producer and guitarist extraordinaire Clive Gregson, with Andy Stone doing the honours on the desk. An audience of friends and fans determined that this was going to be a night to remember.
Lou writes in a very personal style, sometimes names change to protect the innocent, but essentially it's her sense of observation and the way she reflects life that give her songs that something special.
Her particular style of Americana, is very obviously from this side of the pond, but there's one track imparticular that any US based songwriter would be more than happy to have added to the canon, "Jimmy Joe". It's evolved to sit comfortably o the album, but live it gets a real growl and is one of the most imaginative reworking of the crossroads guitar skill for a soul stories put to song.
The characters and even the boots that feature in Lou's songs are often damaged or not complete in a number of different ways, but they always come across as having redeeming features that explain the fragility of exisistance.
The way Lou and the band were performing, it was hard to believe that she'dhad major surgery a few scant weeks ago and it had been thought that this gig might not even happen
Lou showed why she's been making giant leaps forward in the last couple of years. Her performance was full of life and energy. Even when she sat down to perform a couple of quieter numbers just with Clive you could feel her putting herself into the songs.
The band give her an extra dimension, not that she's afraid to give a song full expression when it's just her onstage. It built the night into something really special, one of those gigs that'll sit in your mind long after the last chord has stopped ringing. Lou Brown, writer and performer, a great night out.
Neil King