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Eddi Reader

Venue: The Grand Social
Town: Dublin
Date: 21st February
Website: http://www.eddireader.co.uk

A genuine sellout for several days before the gig, this latest appearance in the capital by Glasgow's finest proves that our appetite for class knows no bounds. She bounced on stage 15 minutes early and over the next hour and three quarters proved that the combination of flirtatious behaviour great songs and one of the hottest bands around is a surefire winner. Kicking off with guitarist Boo Hewerdine's Dragonfly, replete with a lovely box solo from Alan Kelly, this was virtuosic stuff, as that magnificent voice swooped, whooped and hollered through a vast range of material and emotions, to which the audience responded by way of rapt attention during the songs ,and thunderous applause in their wake.

On the way home ,we were trying to pinpoint WHY her stuff works so well, because it does. There's a healthy mix of self deprecation and a reverence for the material which she inhabits-confidently- like a second skin. Wild Mountain Side ,written by "my life partner-for now"!, John Douglas is awash with triple harmonies andVagabond, a new song sees her wrestling with a concertina as if it were an octopus. It works,though and beautifully.

By now, Red ,Red Rose is a standout in any set she does and her preamble on the lyrics, ending with an observation that they're better than "I fancy ye, whit's yer number" prompts an outbreak of giggles from the audience.

Just before the end, Brian Kennedy is invited onstage and they perform 3 songs together. A co-write ,Silver Hearts on Chains proves spell binding and the call and response work on Sam Cooke's You Send Me was from another galaxy .

Two encores topped proceedings off and that was it. It's early days yet,I know,but this may yet prove to be one of the gigs of the year.

Oliver P. Sweeney
pic Neil King, illustrative only not take at Gig