How many concerts can you truly say that you are comfortable enough and enjoying the music so much, that you will happily stay until the early hours, or until the entertainment runs out? Tonights was one such gig.
Support act, American singer, songwriter and musician Priscilla Ahn charmed us with her funny stories and her sometimes quirky, but always beautifully delivered songs. The highlight had to be the Boob Song and yep, boob means the same in American as it does in English. The song is about how she stumbled upon a book of poems in her boyrfriends house, inside which was a note from his ex hoping the whenever he reads the poems he think of her boobs.
Quite possibly the only song Ive ever heard featuring a kazoo solo(!), it was funny and really well delivered at the same time. Priscillas vocal control was spot on, and her ability to use a phrase sampler to record a chorus for her to later harmonize with was excellent. Other instruments to join Priscilla on stage included harmonica and ukulele.
Her debut(?) album A Good Day is out on Blue Note now, and is also now in my collection.
After a short interval, Ray and band, featuring no less than three guitars, keys, bass and drums two additions to the lineup when I last caught Ray at the Hammersmith Apollo almost two years to the day. I must admit that given the subtlety of Rays songs, I feared the worst when I saw a relatively large band, but was also slightly disappointed that there were no horns, given that they play a significant part in some of his songs.
Opening with a very upbeat Henry Nearly Killed Me from latest album Gossip in the Grain, which the band stretched-out with, extending the groove beyond its regular four minutes. Switching tempo for the next song, the soulful, plaintive Hold You In My Arms a beautiful rendition, showing that this bigger band were certainly capable of subtlety and the touring drummer as on the last tour showed his ability to maintain the ambience of a song, providing the drums and percussive elements throughout including shaking some maracas whilst hitting the skins on this particular song.
Maintaining the slower tempo and back to Gossip in the Grain for the next two tracks Let it be Me and the sublime ambient I Still Care for You, where again, the drummer did everything in his power to recreate the ambience on the album, and what a great job, yet again. Lest I sound biased, I should also state that the whole band were absolutely spot on for the whole night delivering dollops of song-sized niceness again and again. Ray played a variety of acoustic guitars throughout the night, ably supported by a rhythm/ lead guitarist and guy on lap steel.
In contrast to the Apollo gig, this audience seemed to be more tame and sophisticated not shouting for Ray to say something or so I thought. I guess because almost every song was followed by an equipment change, and a slight delay, a few songs in came the we love you Ray (OK, I cannot deny this, either), then the whistles and a few nonsensical ramblings, Meg White shes alright! and the inevitable say something. Ray wasnt going to take the bait that easily, though.
A few songs on, we come to the quieter part of the set, seeing all but Ray leave the stage, for his sublimely delivered Burn from debut album Trouble.
Oh, I almost forgot about the sideshow: throughout these numbers, a little dude with a 'security' jacket was doing his best to prevent people from recording, taking photos or doing anything else with a dinky little electronic device. His weapon of choice was a handheld torch. If the torch should flash on your face, you need to consider yourself warned, but the more intrepid would brazenly ignore and carry on doing what they were doing, causing the little dude to scurry up to your seat to reprimand you.
All very entertaining and distracting, and I did wonder throughout these quiter numbers I bet Ray would not be happy if he saw this going on. No sooner had the thought crossed my brain, than another flashlight outbreak during Rays achingly beautiful solo rendition of Winter Birds, causing Ray to miss a verse, exhale loudly, and seemingly try to bite his tongue and keep calm. After a few more strums, Ray casually turns in his direction stating that guy needs to get the f*ck outta here cue: rapturous applause from the audience, and torch guy is gone for a while.
Now Mr Lamontagne was all ours, strumming along but not playing, he casually says if I keep on playing this same old part, how much longer before you all start shouting. A few more strums allowed him to get back into the vibe and finish-off the song.
Jolene saw the return of bassist Jennifer Condos and for Gossip in the Grain the pair were joined by support act Priscilla Ahn on backing vocals.
The band finish up with Meg White, Hey Me, Hey Mama, and a song I think was called Home, but which I didnt recognize.
For the encore, the band got their groove on for Three More Days and Trouble.
Then came the journey home with lots of very contented people.