First time at this venue and first impressions is it’s been modelled in the style of the Royal Festival Hall venues, clean lines, subtle lighting and good seating. It’s not often at gigs these days that I lower the average age or have more hair than a lot of the audience but this is true tonight. I am sure it will be business as usual tonight for the Bleachers gig though where I suspect I will be carrying thirty years on most of the crowd.
It’s a double header of sorts tonight with the wonderful Kim Richey kicking us off with a far too short a set (sadly I can’t make her own headline show in a couple of weeks). I’ve been a fan of Richey’s for twenty five years going back to ‘Bittersweet’ from 97. It was lovely to hear the Chuck Prophet co-write ‘Pin a rose’ tonight which I have heard him sing live too but given I was the only one who whooped on his name check his immense talent is sadly lost on most of the audience. (Ed’s note best wishes to Chuck who is not too well at the moment). After only a handful of songs that’s it for Kim but we will see more of her later for several appearances through the main set.
Next up is Gretchen and long-time partner in both musical and marital sense Barry Walsh on grand piano. They are joined on stage in the minimal setup with a bass and electric guitarist. I’m a late comer to Gretchen having seen her at Glastonbury a few years back but have quickly caught up with this super talented songwriter since then.
It’s a no frills simple show, just four fine musicians playing and singing personal stories of life, love and America performed with humility and understatement. You don’t need any theatrical bombast with songs this good and Peter’s voice is a wonderful instrument in its own right standing front and centre with the band filling the sound around it.
From note one of ‘The Show’ to set closer ‘Say Grace’ (with just Kim and Barry on stage) performed unplugged at the front of the stage there are many hair tingling moments. With a back catalogue to die for, every song is a classic and lord knows how she will chose a set next year for her farewell tour.
So a lovely laid back evening of fine music in a nice comfortable setting and a respectably earlyish finish so I could make a reasonable train home. These things matter more and more these days especially with four gigs in four gigs in five days.
Keep on country rockin’ y’all.