Nice local gig to the office for me at the always excellent Omeara. Before I review the gig a word on the venue. It’s certainly up there as one of my new favourite venues in London since it opened. Heat aside that is always an issue here, one thing that constantly strikes me is the insistence people packing the upper level but if you push through this crowd downstairs always has space. Once down there you are close to the tiny stage, the atmosphere is better and the sound is always good too. A bit of an issue on the door last night where the operative checking tickets insisted that you placed the ticket precisely right in front of her and would not move her hand three inches to her right if you didn’t place it in exactly the right place. Clearly someone not happy with their lot.
Anyhoo onto the show. In spite of the continued issues in the states, with the lack of radio air play for female country artists, it’s a really crowded market with many exceptional talents making it difficult for the cream to always shine through. However there is no such problem here for Tenille Arts. Armed with just a sparkly acoustic guitar and a side arm of a blue fender, Tenille delivers a beautiful ninety minutes of songs about love, loss, relationships and heartbreak.
It’s a fantastic set taking us on a journey throughout her career and back catalogue played along with a couple of new ones rarely performed before with a couple of covers from the Dixie Chicks and Adele thrown in for good measure.
Tenille shifts effortlessly between acoustic, electric and piano too but it’s that exquisite voice that is the strongest instrument on show tonight. Full of range it glides from delicate to soaring at a stroke and the audience are all on board on this musical journey.
Impossible to pick a highlight as it’s such a strong set all of the way through but the more up tempo groove of Wildfire and Whiskey was exceptional.
My other observation is the passion of the UK country fan base who I have mentioned before. Many familiar faces in the audience and their commitment to these female artist is unrivalled as they sing back every word. I think it’s this passion that does mean more of these acts are likely to come over here to perform and long may it continue.
A super night with a great artist.
Keep on country rockin’ y’all