Good things
can wait and the latest Courtney Marie Andrews gig review falls handsomely into
this camp. The normal quick turnaround had to take a backseat as less than five
hours after returning home from this Nottingham gig it was bag packed and off
on the annual pilgrimage to the Edinburgh Fringe. Among the onslaught of
artistic chaos from the world’s greatest creative extravaganza, thoughts on
another stunning performance from Courtney did not stray too far. What
chronicle of a gig year could omit one of its chief protagonists? Therefore, it
was hand to the task at the earliest opportunity when the dust finally settled
five days on from the gig.
From
memory, this was the third leg of UK
Courtney Marie dates in 2018, and the first one to stop off in the West-East
Midlands corridor. The centerpiece of the August trip was a slot at the Green
Man Festival, so there was a full band in tow this time. Earlier in the year,
she had played some solo dates including a sublime show in an Oxford church,
which had set the bar exceedingly high for an evening of such depth and
immersive quality.
Inevitably,
comparative thoughts turned to that February evening when Courtney first
introduced many of the songs from the new album. Now they bristled in full
grandeur complete with the entire four-piece backing band including keys, drums
and the twin guitar attack of bass and electric lead. The backdrop allowed
Courtney to be more expressive in how the songs projected. A supreme moment
from this show saw Courtney ditch the guitar to vocally sink deeper into ‘Rough Around the Edges’. The breadth and
wider extent to her vocal capability came alive more in this show, adding a
very soulful side to the quintessential folk singer hitting an abundance of
pristine notes. Where else can you marvel at a significant tribute to Aretha
Franklin in the shape of ‘Chain of Fools’
alongside the heartfelt ramblings packed into ‘This House’.
One
constant between the Oxford and Nottingham shows was the absorbing mesmerising
gaze that protrudes from Courtney’s eyes, representing an artist finding solace
in an entranced zone. One that successfully snares a willing audience.
‘Long Road Back to You’ is the perfect
idealistic closer, settled in the final slot on the new album, so what better
role reversal than to open your set with it. Courtney Marie Andrews does
not always conform to the norm. Additionally, ‘May Your Kindness Remain’ opens the record and this evening crowned
the pre-encore set with a spine tingling rendition prior to the quintet taking
the short obligatory disappearance before the evening’s final two songs.
For this
Nottingham show, we had a solo version of ‘Honest
Life’ upon the return before the band also appeared to serenade us all on
our way home with ‘Irene’. Wholly
from a selfish viewpoint, it was disappointing that ‘Took You Up’ did not make the set list, but at least if you are
going to leave one of the year’s standout songs on the sidelines you know that
the replacements will be good.
The Rescue
Rooms is a curious venue. On one hand, it possesses a cold corporate feel
aligned with the soulless O2 shells up and down the land, but it does have a
sound sweet spot that has chiselled out some memorable nights over the last
couple of years. Chuck Prophet was my gig of the year in 2017 and Katzenjammer
hit the spot on a previous visit. There is little doubt that Courtney Marie
Andrews will be up there when the annals of 2018 are written with Oxford and
Nottingham perhaps sharing a twin billing in their contrasting glory.
The evening
was not without a slight hiccup as Courtney halted ‘Table for One’ while a touch of correction to the audience was
applied. Sorry Courtney, you were wrong in suggesting that they could stay.
Normal service quickly resumed and we were once left in the hands, voice and
presence of an artist possessing the most compelling of skillful aura and an
architect of some of the most beautiful and cathartic music you can find.
Courtney
Marie Andrews is a treasure that gleams a little brighter with each show,
record and artistic adaption. A strong contender for all round artist of the
year is a given and one review that is worth the wait even in the midst of a
busy cultural period.
www.courtneymarieandrews.com