Serial gig goers would be hard pressed to see a more
impassioned and dedicated performance than what Michele Stodart and her band
put on this evening at the Kitchen Garden Café. Throw in an almost mystical
chemistry with lead guitarist Raevennan Husbandes and a venue usually the
domain of the strictly acoustic melted in a haze of finely tuned folk rock. Spells
of acoustic paradise were aplenty, but it was the moments when the controls
were turned slightly up that raised the intensity of this show. The enhanced sound
which was still sufficiently subtle to embrace the surroundings was aided and
abetted by a vocalist exuding such depth and emotion in each chosen song.
Michele left a truly favourable impression to suggest even greater levels than
currently surmounted as an independent solo artist.
Early into her set, Michele did re-assure the audience that
the Magic Numbers were still active with album #5 set to feature soon. However
this show was primarily about the two solo albums Michele has put out with an
understandable focus on this summer’s release PIECES. With the exception of a new
song to open the set, a finale cover of Neil Young’s ‘Birds’ and two new co-writes with Raevennan, the remaining nine
tracks to grace the set list reminded folks of the unlimited appeal of her recorded
solo work.
The set up for Michele’s headline set after a couple of
support slots was the four piece format with keys and percussion adding a
valuable touch. Michele herself eased between acoustic, electric and bass depending
on the mood of the song and the multi-sparing with Raevennan saw metaphorical
sparks fly around the place. Raevennan was showing the full breadth of her
talents at this point and confirming why she is so in-demand as a musician
highlighted by her ongoing membership of The Moulettes. Of course, like Michele’s
current status, Raevennan’s de facto position is a singer-songwriter and
grasped the opportunity to showcase some of her own compositions during the
second support slot.
The evening started some three hours prior to the blistering
finale with a short set by a lo-fi singing guitarist going by the name of
WAYLOR who managed to inject some minimalist electrification into a bunch of
softly spoken songs. He was followed by Raevennan and her more conventional
song delivery. She picked a couple of tracks from her BOX OF INNOCENCE EP
including the title piece and concluded her brief thirty minutes of solo
spotlight with the number ‘To The Sea’ off her duet album with Tracey Browne. This
in effect acted as a mere introduction to her evening input which later emerged
into spirited lead guitarist, harmony vocalist and key song writing
contributor.
Michele’s headlining set began in solo format before the
band joined her for ‘Something About You’
from the new record. Amongst the tracks lifted from the album and transplanted
into a live setting was the single ‘Ain’t
No Woman’ and the standout tune on the evening ‘Just Anyone Won’t Do’. Check out the links to online versions of
both these songs. The pick of the tracks chosen off her 2012 debut solo release
WIDE-EYED CROSSING was ‘Foolish Love’,
one of the set’s up tempo offerings. Another highlight worthy of mention was
the Michele/Raevennan co-write ‘Fall into
You’, beautifully sung in harmony and duet.
One overriding memory of this show was the diverse effect of
Michele’s ability to infiltrate rock, soul, folk, and even country, styles into
her songs. The ultimate effect left an appreciative audience in awe of the
startling presentation on offer for a highly reasonable outlay. Shows like this
make venturing out on a Monday night totally worthwhile. Full credit to all players,
with a final word of thanks to Michele Stodart for sharing the soul of her
music in such a truly touching measure.
www.michelestodart.co.uk
