Reviews
Artist:Sarah McClurg with Silver Creek
Venue:The Cluney
Town:Newcastle
Date:4/2/11
Website:www.sarahmcclurg.com
Canadian Sarah McClurg's first UK tour was promoted by Carol and Ian Reay of SmartChoice Music, here in the North East.
Silver Creek, who also hail from Canada, accompanied Sarah and opened the show. The band are; Shawn Tavener and Blair Holan on vocals and guitar, Jeffrey Rogers on keys and vocals, Shane McEwan on drums and Mark LaForest on bass guitar. They demonstrated some wonderful musicianship and great vocals on a selection of old and new songs, including Slow Time, Hard Life, Twist, Pull, Tear and Indian Summer, which would make a great roadtrip song. There is a stunning, soulful quality to their vocals and at times their country rock sound brought to mind The Crickets - can't be bad, then!
After a short break, waif like Sarah McClurg took to the stage - immediately it was obvious that she has a huge, gorgeous voice, which leaves you wondering where on earth it comes from! Opening her set with a new song, Burning Georgia Down, she clearly started as intended to continue. Her favourite, and possibly mine, from the Tennessee Rain CD followed, as she launched into a spine tingling version of One Soul, before completely changing the pace for a stripped bare version of Paper Kite; just Sarah and her guitar. Exquisite.
The band returned for a rocking version of Rodeo Girl, a radio hit in the making, I'm sure, prefixed with an obviously heartfelt thankyou to local radio presenter Brian Clough, who has championed her music for months now.
As the band played the opening chords of Better Luck Next Time, it was clear that Sarah possesses that rare quality; quiet confidence, which allows her to own the stage whilst oozing enthusiasm for and love of what she does.
One of the band taking the part of Johnny, Sarah became June Carter cash for the next three minutes, for the best cover version of Jackson I've ever heard. Then came a rocking version of the CD's title track, Tennessee Rain, that had everyone singing along.
The set ended all too soon with two final songs; a great cover of Time On You, a song by fellow Canadian Lynn Miles, and a beautiful rendition of Tumbleweed. We were treated to That Train as an encore before she took her leave of the stage, but not before thanking us for allowing her to do what she does. What a lovely lady.
I'm already looking forward to the new CD and hoping that Sarah will return to our shores soon : I am in no doubt that whatever lies ahead for this Rodeo Girl, she's only just begun.
Helen Mitchell