Deacon Blue

St David's Hall, Cardiff – 22/11/2018

The resurgence of interest in Deacon Blue is quite staggering of late.
Of course, celebrating their 30th anniversary will bring out fans, and
former fans in droves, yet the fact that they are still making new and
refreshing music, with the 2016 Believers album receiving great
critical acclaim and no doubt attracting new fans, certainly played a
massive part in igniting a whole new, totally unexpected career boost
rather than just resting on their laurels.

As always singer Ricky Ross takes the limelight being front and
centre, bursting with energy that belies the fact he's the recent
recipient of a bus pass, such was his prowling and cajoling through
nearly 2 hours of fast paced Celtic rock.

Opening their set with the driving “I Was Right You Was Wrong” it
proved a slow build that suddenly burst into life following the first
instantly recognisable bars of “Raintown” a masterpiece of epic
proportions with a reaction that set the tone for the rest of the
evening.

Not that it was all power and pace. Deacon Blue's quiet moments are
always wistful and full of nostalgia and longing, most evident in a
moving “When Will You (Make My Telephone Ring)” which including a
refrain into the Chi-lites classic “Have You Seen Her”

The pace couldn't continue and fortunately there was a brief moment to
catch your breath with a touching moment when Ross, with bandmate and
wife Lorraine McIntosh celebrated their son Seamus's 18th birthday
with a song and birthday cake leaving a very embarrassed, yet no doubt
proud son.

Back to business, in a varied set, their big hitters obviously
received the biggest response from a very vocal crowd with “Real Gone
Kid” “Loaded” and “Chocolate Girl” getting the Beatlemania treatment,
whilst a singalong “Dignity” provided a fittng encore before ending
the evening with a band rendition of Willie Nelson's “Always On My
Mind” and beaming smiles for all those who attended.

Deacon Blue

Madeleine Peyroux

St David's Hall, Cardiff – 21/11/2018

American jazz/blues singer Madeleine Peyroux is one of a rare bred
when it comes to seeing her perform.

Her delivery is effortlessly natural and with her influences many
varied, so much so, that it's fascinating watching Peyroux easily swap
musical genres with such a quality. Whether it be jazz, blues,
country, each song comes stamped in Peyroux's inimitable style.

Promoting her current album Anthem, inspired by and featuring the
Leonard Cohen song of the same name and considered by many as her
greatest work yet, a bold statement when considering her previous
success, it's hard to dispute the claims with the recording being both
personal and political in content, that grips you from the very first
hearing.

What was a joy it was then watching much of the album performed live
with Peyroux supported by such an excellent band, most notably John
Herington, Steely Dan's guitarist of choice, in such fine form with
some subtle yet inspiring guitar work.

The concert was one of the quietest I've heard for many years. It was
nice to for once listen to and experience something pure without a
bass guitar booming or the snapping sound of a snare drum. Each
instrument expertly played, heard and enjoyed.

From the new album the evening opener 'Down On Me' and the
McCartney-like 'On My Own' bounced along as did the Latin inspired
'Honey Party' with her audience contributing in the choruses, but my
stand out song and performance was her version of “All My Heroes”
beautifully sad and melancholic with Peyroux plucking her ukulele and
some soulful piano by Andy Ezrin.

Of the rest, a wonderful version of Hank Williams “I'll Never Get Out
OF This World Alive” got feet tapping as did the jaunty “On A Sunday
Afternoon” whilst “Brand New Deal” sounded right out of the Donald
Fagan songbook and quite stunning.

She's not one of Cardiff's regular visitors but from the response
received there'll be no shortage of fans looking for another repeat
performance from one of the Jazz world's finest.

American jazz/blues singer Madeleine Peyroux is one of a rare bred
when it comes to seeing her perform.

Her delivery is effortlessly natural and with her influences many
varied, so much so, that it's fascinating watching Peyroux easily swap
musical genres with such a quality. Whether it be jazz, blues,
country, each song comes stamped in Peyroux's inimitable style.

Promoting her current album Anthem, inspired by and featuring the
Leonard Cohen song of the same name and considered by many as her
greatest work yet, a bold statement when considering her previous
success, it's hard to dispute the claims with the recording being both
personal and political in content, that grips you from the very first
hearing.

What was a joy it was then watching much of the album performed live
with Peyroux supported by such an excellent band, most notably John
Herington, Steely Dan's guitarist of choice, in such fine form with
some subtle yet inspiring guitar work.

The concert was one of the quietest I've heard for many years. It was
nice to for once listen to and experience something pure without a
bass guitar booming or the snapping sound of a snare drum. Each
instrument expertly played, heard and enjoyed.

From the new album the evening opener 'Down On Me' and the
McCartney-like 'On My Own' bounced along as did the Latin inspired
'Honey Party' with her audience contributing in the choruses, but my
stand out song and performance was her version of “All My Heroes”
beautifully sad and melancholic with Peyroux plucking her ukulele and
some soulful piano by Andy Ezrin.

Of the rest, a wonderful version of Hank Williams “I'll Never Get Out
OF This World Alive” got feet tapping as did the jaunty “On A Sunday
Afternoon” whilst “Brand New Deal” sounded right out of the Donald
Fagan songbook and quite stunning.

She's not one of Cardiff's regular visitors but from the response
received there'll be no shortage of fans looking for another repeat
performance from one of the Jazz world's finest.

Madeleine Peyroux

China Crisis

The Globe – 19/10/2018

There's been a resurgence of late for eighties nostalgia and bands have been quick to give the public what it wants. What with reruns of Top Of The Pops and radio shows dedicated to the era, for many fans its a second chance to see the bands of their youth.

But few bands come with the pedigree and back catalogue that this Kirby duo have produced since they burst on the scene back in the early eighties and it was a sell out crowd that welcomed the band like they were a reformed One Direction, howling like teenagers as the band came out to play.

Having seen the band a number of times in the last few years they never disappoint whether as a duo, trio, or like this evening, a full live band, their melodic brand of pop/rock filled with hooks that instantly grab you is a joy to behold.

The concert, split in two, featured in the first half their hit album Flaunt The Imperfection, produced by Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame, and featuring on bass former member Gary “Gazza” Johnson, joining band stalwarts Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon for a unique performance of a quality recording

With each song, singer Gary Daly delighted with gems of information regarding the album's creation, always joking, his personality dominated the evening with good-natured banter and funny put-downs, but quick to acclaim what a massive influence Becker was on their much-loved recording especially two of the evening's stand out tracks "You Did Cut Me" and "King in a Catholic Style”.

After a short pause, they returned with a second half that comprised mainly of their greatest hits which featured stunning versions of "African and White" and "Christian" plus a track from their most recent release, the impressive Autumn in the Neighbourhood with guitarist Eddie taking lead vocals on “Fool”

What really impressed on a scintillating evening was how well the songs sounded despite being created in the eighties they were as fresh as the day they were recorded which is a testament to their creativity and the support of their excellent band mates.

No doubt they will be back and certainly another evening not to be missed.

Five Stars

China Crisis

Joan Armatrading

St David's Hall - 17/10/2018

It's been 46 years since the first appearance of the talent that is Joan Armatrading. And for 46 years her body of work increases with a quality that is few and far between in an industry lacking in such inspirational and inspiring artistes.

With her unique and easily identifiable vocal style, Armatrading was quite ground-breaking with British female singer/songwriters a rarity back in the Seventies, so the younger Armatrading laid a path for many to follow.

Opening the show with her latest album Not Too Far A Way in its entirety, it may seem a brave move yet with no support for the evening, it did make sense as we very rarely know anything by the support act and despite not knowing much of the new material, it worked wonderfully with Joan, her guitars plus an array of pedal effects that gave the songs an energy and a musical boost.

Dressed all in black with a times just her keyboards for accompaniment and no backing band it wasn't without its problems as a few guitar and tech issues allowed Armatrading to converse more freely with crowd with a few quips and self-effacing put downs.

Highlights from the first half were the albums title track plus the interestingly quirky Invisible(Blue Light) and the lovely Not Too Far Away.

Set two was a more retrospective one playing older songs which included of course hits such as All The Way From America, Rosie and and the punchy Drop The Pilot and delighting the audience with a encore comprising of the beautiful Weakness In Me, on piano and the song that really brought her to prominence, the ageless Love And Affection.

A quality evening from a quality performer who never fails to deliver

Joan Armatrading

Blair Dunlop

Acapela Studio - 07/10/2018

Occasionally, as if by fate, you get to see someone new who you would never had seen but for a random email or name drop from a friend that tempts you out.

Thankfully on a chilled Sunday evening I headed out to the splendid Acapela Studio in Pentyrch to witness a quite enjoyable evening in the presence of Blair Dunlop and his able support for the tour, Jack Carty.

Aussie Jack Carty opened proceedings with a shortish set that featured bitter-sweet tunes of travel and the longing for home and missed friends and family, which certainly whetted the appetite for more from the friendly New South Walian.

Promoting his new album Notes From An Island, the highly acclaimed Dunlop as been busy gaining plaudits since his debut Bags Outside The Door EP in 2011.

Interestingly, Dunlop is no stranger to Cardiff spending much of his time in the Roath area of the city and experiencing the delights of student night at a certain nightclub in the city that he's quite scathing about in one of the evenings stand out tunes 45s from his House of Jacks album.

With support from the previously mentioned Carty on bass and Fred Claridge on drums, both also supplying backing vocals to assist a 'croaky' Dunlop, who, even though with in his words “a shot voice” his delivery at times was quite sublime in a set perfectly paced.

Left alone to perform a couple of numbers acoustically, Dunlop's refreshing take on Springsteen's standard “Dancing In The Dark” plus “Green Liquor”, a song about the housing crisis in London, the liquor being the sauce accompanying the pie, mash and jellied eels of the town's East End were soulful and thought-provoking as was “Spices From The East” which hits on Britain's dark colonial past.

With the band on stage “Sweet On You” with its Beatle-like intro and lyrically superb, bounced along at a rate whilst the band-version of “Nothing Good” proved how good and adaptable Dunlop's songs can be either acoustically or rockin' with the band.

In parting Dunlop proclaimed he'd be back even if just for the venue's prized pizza, though I suspect a song or several would be required for payment. A brilliant evening from a brilliant talent. 

Blair Dunlop