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REVIEW
Amy LaVere
St George's Hall, Bewdley|Friday 8th April
Having had the opportunity to experience an outstanding Friday
night’s musical entertainment last month in the venerable venue
of St George's in Bewdley, I’d purchased my ticket for the latest in
the ‘Music in the Hall’ a good while back knowing that they'd be
in demand. I was certainly looking forward to see how the team
arranging these intimate gigs would match the standard of the
last visiting Nashville twosome; Matthew Perryman-Jones and
Angel Snow.
A combination of word of mouth, simple but effective local
advertising and sympathetic local press (thank you Slap Mag),
ensured that a sizeable audience had assembled at St George’s
and they proved to be a respectful, appreciative and
knowledgeable one.
As always with
these events the
organisers called
upon the
tremendous talent
in the area and
included two local
acts on the bill,
including a youth
act in conjunction
with Bewdley
Youth Festival.
Bewdley based band Swallows opened the night with a wellreceived
set of electronica based songs featuring beautiful
harmonies from the two main singers. They were followed by
Wyldwood from Stourport, fronted by Hannah Law and Chloe
Mogg who soon proved that they are becoming a force to be
reckoned with.
However, the night belonged to the double-bass playing Amy
LaVere who had the audience spellbound with her songs and her
humour in describing life in Memphis, Tennessee. Resplendent in
a pastel pink wig Amy, accompanied by her Texan troubadour
husband in a white cowboy hat, was welcomed by enthusiastic
applause and the expectation level was turned up a few notches.
Amy and hubby Will Sexton opened the gig with two new
numbers from their recently released album ‘Hallelujah I’m A
Dreamer’. Introducing ‘Dreamer’ as a story that developed
‘restlessness into recklessness’ and running straight into the
lyrical vision of young love from ‘Last Rock n Roll Boy to Dance’,
with both receiving an increased volume of applause, indicating
that the crowd were indeed warming to the accomplished
musicianship of the leading lady, plying her trade on a borrowed
double bass with her partner wielding a beaten up six string.
44 SLAP MAY
It wasn’t long before some personal anecdotes endeared her
further to the audience and introduced the best numbers of the
night. A family story introduced her saintly ‘Big Sister’, with Amy
emphasising that the song referred to the first 17 years of her
sister’s life when she was something of an ‘ass’ and then
introduced us to her love of Memphis and it’s history, by explaining
that the difference in the deaf sign language between Memphis
and Murder is one finger! ‘Killing Him’ was explained as a tale of
the ultimate retribution of spousal abuse and the first ‘murder
ballad’ of the night.
The most animated story followed, by introducing us all to her
experiences sampling hallucinogenic drugs, playing schoolgirl
tricks on her housemate and 16 days without power following
Hurricane ‘Elvis’. It was evidence of how in tune the crowd were
that ‘Damn Love Song’ and ‘Day Like Any’ were followed by a
respectful silence and the haunting lyrics of ‘Rabbit’ which for me
was the best song of the evening. Raucous applause and knowing
nods of approval resulted.
By way of introduction to the last song of the set, ‘Tennessee
Valentine’, Amy thanked the donor of the borrowed bass and if
further emphasis of her reputation as a musician’s musician was
needed a certain Robert Plant stood at the rear of the hall joining
in the crowd appreciation.
Encores are part and parcel of an artist’s set nowadays, but the
reward for this intimate and respectful crowd was an additional
four numbers, which included a nod of recognition to the recent
passing of Merle Haggard and Will Sexton grabbing control of
the mic for a fun version of ‘The Man Who Comes Around’ (track
it down, it won’t disappoint)
This evening was another undoubted success for the team in
Bewdley and increased recognition for musicianship from the
American state of Tennessee. Thanks for making the journey Amy
LaVere and Will Sexton respectful silence and the haunting lyrics
of ‘Rabbit’ which for me was the best song of the evening.
Raucous applause and knowing nods of approval resulted.
Images: Colin Hill Words: Camomile to Whiskey via Trevor Price
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