Reviews
Artist:Gateshead Americana Festival
Venue:The Sage
Town:Gateshead
Date:25-26/07/09
Website:http://www.jumpinhot.com/
Saturday
I heard that Hall 2s evening show of James Hunter with Ryan Shaw was well received, whilst the first of the ticketed events I had chosen to attend was Saturday evening in Hall 1; Lucinda Williams with Buick 6 and Devon Sproule. Devon did around a twenty minute slot, and having not seen her play live before I really enjoyed her set. Only 27, she is already four albums into her career and there is something very unusual, almost quirky about her delivery, which belies her years. From Ontario, it seems she is attuned to an older style of country-folk which is refreshing to say the least; this was certainly the case as she sang such songs as Don’t Hurry for Heaven, and Ain’t that the Way. There is something about this lady and her music that you cannot help but warm to and whatever that magical ingredient may be it leaves you wanting more.
After a brief stage change around, Lucinda Williams’ band took the stage for a set which included several Led Zeppelin tunes The band comprises Chet Lyster on guitar/keys, David Sutton on bass, Butch Norton on drums/percussion, Eric Schermerhorn on guitar and Doug Pettibone on guitar. Their set could leave no one in any doubt that they are talented but the label on their myspace page of ‘psychedelic’ might go some way towards explaining why I, and others, felt we were listening to rock-metal and found it way too heavy.
Following a short break, Lucinda, who was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but now lives in Austin, Texas, appeared on stage, looking no different from when I last saw her several years ago in Glasgow; amazing when you think she is now fifty six. I was relieved that unlike that night she initially played her acoustic guitar, so it was a little less rocky to begin with as she launched straight into Real Love, which denotes her recent marriage, followed by Cryin’ Time, before commenting on the ‘beautiful sounding room.’ She then sang I Lost it then the Randy Weeks penned song, I Can’t Let Go. Are You Alright took us back in time a few years to her West album whilst reminding us that Lucinda sings of anguish like no one else.
Blue, from her beautiful 2001 Essence album, was my personal highlight of the evening and the magic moment where the hairs on my neck stood on end. Probably the closest we will ever hear to Lucinda stripping a song bare, as the band pulled back, Lucinda’s distinctive, gravelly and achingly beautiful voice shone through the haunting lyrics and bluesy sound, to remind me, for one, why she is so revered as both a singer and a songwriter. I was also reminded how much I wish we could see Lucinda perform acoustically with just her and her guitar to see this side of her for a whole show. Sadly, I think this will remain a dream.
Then came a song about a poet she knew and Pineola, a song that could break your heart, about a friend’s suicide. If only we could turn such tragedy into such lyrical beauty. The haunting Drunken Angel, from the Car Wheels on a Gravel Road CD told the story of a songwriter she knew in Yexas named Blaze Foley, a big follower of Townes Van Zandt, who was shot in a ‘pointless argument.’ Lucinda noted that she later realised the song wasn’t only about Blaze but also about Townes and even Kurt Cobain and other such musicians. It serves as a cautionary tale and extra poignant as I read recently that this is a woman who now abstains from hard liquor. Out of Touch demonstrated perfectly how she treads the fine line that exists between Country, Americana, Rock, Folk and Blues, effortlessly, without ever seeming to fall through any of the cracks in the middle.
Someone shouted out for Real Life Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings and Lucinda called back that they were coming to that; ‘I’ve just switched to my electric guitar, we’re goin’ up from here.’ It seemed to me that her doing so gave the band a cue to go mad and as Lucinda worked her way through the requested song, followed by I am Waiting, Honey Bee (her favourite song to sing right now, from the newest CD Little Honey, and a song inspired by Bettye Lavette, Motherlewss Children among others, I was not alone in feeling that the crashing drums and almost manic electric guitar riffs were simply drowning out her voice, leaving her to shout over the top. Righteously and Unsuffer Me, Joy and Tears of Joy are such great songs but they were just lost in the cacophony.
I recently read that Lucinda is crowd phobic and still in her mid fifties experiences stage fright. It seems contradictory when you look at what she produces but maybe this explains her penchant for the band being loud for at least part of the set. It also explains her somewhat distracting habit of reading from a binder on stage, which at times seems to distance her from her audience. That said, kudos to her that she has found ways to overcome the nerves to be able to perform live.
Her electric guitar is nothing short of stunning, however, silver, with sparkles up the strap. It is more noticeable with this instrument that Lucinda Williams has a really unique method of strumming her guitar, preferring to strum close to the neck.
After taking her leave of the stage Lucinda returned and as an encore I was pleased that she chose Little Rock Star, an articulate look at the cost of fame, allegedly written about Amy Winehouse and Ryan Adams, though she didn’t confirm this on stage. They and a slew of other wanna bes could perhaps benefit from listening to this advice. Thankfully for this song she reverted to acoustic guitar and the band pulled back. We were back to electric for the final number, Top of The World, which perhaps fittingly declares ‘It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll’ She didn’t state that she wanted people up to dance, but seemed a little put out at the end that only one person had done so, thanking them before walking off stage.
I left the evening feeling glad I had seen her again and thankful for the more acoustic first part of the show, and wondering whether it is just me who prefers this side of this unquestionably talented Little Rock Star.
pics:Lucinda Williams - photocredit Neil King(from stock not shot at venue)