Success for artists striking out in new territories as live acts requires organic growth or instant impact. The former can only occur over time, but if the latter is in place from day one then the chances of succeeding are looking good. The best assessment of seeing Jill Andrews for the first time is to liken her traits to those of three fellow Nashville- based artists adept at ensuring their music travels with acclaim. The poise of Erin Rae, the song craft of Caroline Spence and the vocal air of Gretchen Peters all came to mind as the latest US singer-songwriter export parading on the fault lines between country, folk and Americana took to the stage for a mesmerising hour and a quarter during the Birmingham date of an inaugural UK tour. It doesn't require too much research to uncover the pedigree of Jill Andrews back home with a recording catalogue stretching over eighteen years in numerous formats and guises. The degree that pedigree was channelled into a polished performance is a testament to a seasoned operator equipped with all the attributes to court overseas audiences of various persuasions.
The turnout at the Hare and Hounds was compact yet immensely knowledgable. Consensus was only of a vague awareness, but one that warranted checking out on a November Monday evening. The end result was resoundingly in the affirmative to kick start the required organic growth. Instinctively composed songs wrapped in eminently comforting vocals chaperoned by a radiant personality gives Jill Andrews a head start in front of any new crowd. Her appeal stretches from writing a fully signed up tear jerker taken up by the TV series Nashville to gliding through a cover of Neil Young's 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' in all the haze of an early 70s singer-songwriter. Dipping back into her recording emporium reveals multi orchestral offerings and cuts sunk into indie-folk psyche. It's a little more simplistic here with a solitary guitar acting as the guiding light on a seismic stroll culminating in the immortal unplugged song to finish. This up close and personal ending casts away the shackles of the past couple of years.
The most recent album is THIRTIES possessing an unfortunate release date of March 2020. The accompanying book was shared and promoted during this show alongside a number of tracks including 'The Party', 'Back Together' and 'Call It Even'. This last song was one of the personal highlights from the set. Another favourite was 'I'm So In Love With You' recorded as a duet with Seth Avett of the famed Avett Brothers, and originally found on 2016's excellent album THE WAR INSIDE.
While Jill Andrews feasts on the sad song syndrome, and has clothing merchandise to celebrate it just like Caroline Spence and Gretchen Peters, there is room for a little bit of deviation such as the requested 'Tell That Devil'. Another composition transitioning to TV as the theme song to Wynonna Earp. Whatever was turned to this evening came up trumps, all gloriously bestowed in singer-songwriter gold and fully cemented our guest as an artist of cultivated panache.
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| Katie O'Malley |
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| Emilia Quinn |
