Reviews

Artist:Robb Johnson & Lou Brown
Venue:The Bourne Beat
Town:Bournemouth
Date:28/04/09
Website: http://www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk/showcasesessionlive.html

In fairness I do need to apply a caveat to this review. This gig was a ‘Fatea Showcase Session LIVE’ gig and as such is directly linked to the magazine you are about to read this review in. An independent review can be found here:www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

The idea of the Fatea Showcase Sessions LIVE is to combine the best of local songwriting talent with travelling singer songwriters to create a truly unique occasion.

The local talent was provided by Lou Brown(below), Robb johnson(right) made the trip down from Brighton for this the second show at The Bourne Beat Hotel near the West Cliff.

Lou Brown is one of the best singer/songwriters to emerge from Poole/Bournemouth in a while. Dates with the liokes are Boo Hewerdine and Clive Gregson as well as a successful US tour are marking her out as an artist to keep an eye on and an ear out for.

Her blend of folk and Americana have given her a sound that is perfectly fitted for any venue she chooses to take it to. Lou kicks off on her own with a song from her forthcoming and long awaited sophamore album. Tonight would provide her the opportunity to showcase some of the songs that will be finding their way to a record store near you in the not too distant future.

Lou invites Aimee Newsome-Stone to join her on stage for a number of songs. There's some real sweet harmonies when Aimee and Lou get together. With such strong songs to work with it provides an opportunity to give them a good stretch/work out. It might be a coincidence, but both girls decided to go shoeless for most of the set. It may seem like a cliche to say it grounds them, but if it relaxes the artist then why not.

Lou end the set solo and with one of my favourite songs, "Jimmy Joe". It's a real growler of a blues song. Lou adds an actress quality to the piece when she performs it. A huge chunk of communication is body language and Lou delivers this song almost like a play. It's about a certain bluesman, Rob Johnson and his deal with the devil. He's also one b away from where we're going next.

Fatea & Robb go back a long way, we were still producing a magazine on paper when we first hooked up. This was actually the first time I'd seen Robb perform solo. It was worth the wait.

Robb is a great observer of life. He wears his socialist credentials like his heart, on his sleeve. His songs can go from nought to angry in the bat of an eyelid and back to compassion at the same speed.

Nowhere is this demonstrated more than on "The Prince And Private Gentle". The song is an attack on the wars we've become embroilled in for the sake of politics. The anger at the manipulation and lies that got us there. The compassion for the troops that have been sent there and the families that some will never come back to, as was, tragically, the case for Pte Gentle.

Robb's songs often reflect a dream for a fairer society, one less driven by clasws and greed where people get proper chances at life. Sometimes that comes through a personal route, apologising to the second child for the hand me downs, at others through the observation at taking Class 6B swimming.

On the night the songs jollowed a journey, both physical and emotional. Robb is a consumate performer, he relates to an audience, shares the banter between the songs and occasionally takes you to places you might not be comfortable with. Entertainment, can carry a message, it doesn't have to be preachy. It can make you think and Robb challenges you to do just that.

The night ends, appropriately with a track off his "A Beginner's Guide" album, "Dorset Moon" a song about a beer or two and a trip home with Thomas Hardy. Great night.

The Fatea Showcase Sessions LIVE are held on the last Tuesday of the month, click here for more details.