Lynne Hanson is the type of artist bestowed with gratitude
and one never to lose sight of purpose and direction. Connecting with her
audience appears to be a source of inspiration and it is easily transparent to
see how bonds are forged. Drawing influence from country, folk, rock and blues
has provided a solid base for this Canadian to dig deep into her song writing
well and fulfil a desire to make music a viable source of living. Mutual
benefits are aplenty when the fruits of Lynne Hanson’s ambitions pour out on
stage and she aligns herself with a cast perfectly adept at playing the crucial
support role. Therefore, for the second successive year it was a European
excursion for Lynne Hanson and the Good Intentions, and a first visit to
Thimblemill Library in the heart of the West Midlands.
Before we dive into the detail of this successful gig, it
is worth paying Lynne credit for the superb work she has recently done with
fellow Canadian Lynn Miles. Indeed it was only around eight months ago since The
Lynnes tour called into the nearby Kitchen Garden in Birmingham to play a show
in support of the excellent collaborative record HEARTBREAK SONG FOR THE RADIO.
This evening’s show was different in tempo and sound to what
surfaced back in February, although underpinned by a similar knack of
delivering the sensitive song. Tonight was very much about Lynne harnessing the
stellar support of go-to Canadian bassist MJ Dandeneau, drummer Cody Iwasiuk, and a guest lead guitarist by the name of Joe Coombs, borrowed from the good city of
Bristol UK. For around the usual ninety-minute headline slot, we had songs of
heartache, loss and thoughtful contemplation mixed with doses of vibrant rock
and sentimental acoustic roots.
It proved to be a productive and busy weekend in the wider
Midlands area for Lynne Hanson and the Good Intentions. Ettingshall on Saturday
night followed a Friday date in Bewdley, which had glowing reports. Sunday
evening in a library would inevitably be a different beast, but credit to the
band and those venturing out during a time of year when perhaps a little more
motivation is required to leave the warm home. Lynne’s gratitude reverberated around
this art décor building and the perfect response came with an
alternative version of ‘Gotta Have Rain’
delivered in the most connective of ways in the first encore slot.
The set list for this Smethwick show drew songs from a
decade span of Lynne Hanson’s recording career, calling right up to date with a
new song feeling its way into a live format. One of the older songs, ‘Cold Touch’, proved a capable candidate
for the standout mantle alongside fellow rocker ‘This Too Shall Pass’ and the blues infused ‘Devil Said Do’. Each of these afforded Joe Coombs space to unleash
his guitar skills, in a similar vein to what he did when seeing him play with
Jamie Wyatt earlier in the year.
MJ Dandeneau is another musician frequently seen playing
with touring artists, most notably Amanda Rheaume and the Good Lovelies. Her
singled out moment was the eerie intro to ‘Cecil
Hotel’. Although the general remit of the rhythm section is to keep
impeccable time, a feat impressively achieved alongside the third Canadian on
stage, drummer Cody Iwasiuk.
It would not be of surprise if some labelled ‘Trading in My Lonesome’ as the top
moment. This is perhaps the most ear-friendly song and one capable of
attracting audience participation with a gentle prod. Ultimately, the neck is going to protrude out and anoint the
pair ‘Foolish Things’ and ‘Just For Now’ as the crowning moment.
Perhaps their acoustic nature tipped the balance on a Sunday evening, but the
latter in particular made a noted appearance with its notion of self-doubt. A trait
we all have from time to time.
Apart from the aforementioned new song believably titled ‘Hearts Fade’ and ‘Long Way Home’, a unrecorded piece with at least an online video
version, the remainder of the songs came from Lynne’s back catalogue, which was
most recently updated with the 2017 release UNEVEN GROUND. Like all songwriters,
it will not likely be long until another surfeit of songs surface to demand a recording
round, subject as usual to finance availability.
Opening this Thimblemill Events promotion was Moseley-based
band The Lost Notes, a familiar act on the local acoustic circuit. Their trio
format makes a regular appearance opening for touring artists and lead
protagonist Ben Mills throws his heart and soul into warming an audience up.
Superb harmonies and cleverly constructed songs have served The Lost Notes well
in chasing an audience and have enabled them to leave a favourable impression from
many shows where they have graced their presence. With a debut album in the
bank, expect more recordings to appear in the future, as new songs are being
road tested in the best possible environment.
Since first engaging with the work of Lynne Hanson when she supported
Gretchen Peters on the 2012 Hello Cruel World tour, she constantly strives to back
up her numerous releases with perineal touring. She comes across as a grafter
who never takes any ounce of support for granted. This transpires into
seriously impressive roots music that achieves the ultimate goal of
translating into something meaningful to an appreciative audience.
