Reviews
Artists: Mickey Wynne / Amy Charlotte / Michele von Kaenel
Venue: 12 Bar Club
Town: London
Date: 11 Jun 09
Website:www.myspace.com/mickeywynne
www.myspace.com/sweetcharlottemusic
www.reverbnation.com/michelevonkaenel
The 12 Bar Club on "Tin Pan Alley" seems to be the most popular venue in London to launch an album, single or EP. Maybe it is the intimate nature of the place, maybe it is history or maybe it is because the artists get to drool at the guitars in the windows of the many instrument shops in Denmark Street but, what ever the reasons are, I will always approve as it is one of the best venues in the capital.
When Michele von Kaenel took to the stage it looked as if she had only just arrived. This is because she, like many others, had to fight their way across town with the majority of the tube lines closed due to a two day strike. She has the air of someone who has played a thousand gigs, loved a thousand gigs and would be happy to play a thousand more. von Kaenel has one of those soulful country voices that, especially when coupled with her skilful songs, I could listen to for hours. "Touch and Go" was introduced as "one of those coulda, woulda, shoulda" songs and probably just about edged "Blinder" as my favourite song of hers.
Sweet Charlotte is a four piece band from Brighton led by vocalist/keyboard player Amy Charlotte with guitarist Ben Nazarko, drummer Fabio Sclafani and bass player Phil Bedford, who play breezy, radio friendly, poppy songs. Charlotte was introduced as a singer with a special voice and through the first half a dozen songs this introduction didn't match what I saw and heard. The 12 Bar does not have the biggest stage around her keyboard seemed to hem her in, not allowing her to either fully connect with the audience and as "Somewhere Else" drew to a close I decided to head towards the bar for a refill. If it were not for bottle neck that always forms in the few square yards of space as people try to get in or out from the stage area, pool room, bar and toilets I would not have properly heard Charlotte's voice get off the ground and fly as I was led to believe it would. Amy Charlotte does have a great voice and I would have loved to have heard more of it.
Backed by just bass and drums, guitarist / songwriter / singer Mickey Wynne keeps things simple on stage: his rhythm section is tight, his playing is expressive without being flashy and none are shy of keeping the volume turned up. The first three tracks were all from the EP "Running on Empty" which was being launched. "All Quiet (on the Eastern Frontier)" did not work as well as the recording and yet, "Against All Odds (I'll do it)" introduced as "not the Phil Collins Against All Odds" was much better live. I was as impressed with "French Blooze" here as I was on the EP.
It was after these three that things got really good. Sitting on the front of the stage with legs dangling as if he was cooling of by the side of a swimming pool an acoustic was whipped out for the country styled "Love and the Bottle" which featured some brutal slide. The acoustic was put away for "Fooled By You" but the slide remained. Wynne's slide playing is as subtle as a Sun headline and harder and faster than an Andy Roddick serve. "My Own Tears" a "my baby left me" blues track seemed very tame in comparison but gave us chance to catch our breaths before the Stevie Ray Vaughan styled "Love Of A Woman" and the final song (and EP title track) "Running on Empty" which, like "Against All Odds", works much better live than recorded.
Whilst I had mixed feelings about "Running On Empty" the EP I know exactly what I think of Mickey Wynne as live musician: one of the best.
The Jacket