It’s been a while, actually ten years, since I last saw Joan Wasser (aka Joan as Police Woman) and since then she has released some fine albums none more so than her latest ‘Damned Devotion’ which I think is a career high. As you would expect the set is largely taken from this album with a few oldies thrown in.
The first thing to say is the band are great. Understated but the perfect stabilising influence on Joan’s adoringly, quirky, scatter logical presence on stage. Beset by tech issues with everything from out of tune guitars, Nord keyboard not programmed properly, faulty AV box, sustain pedal not fixed to the flaw it all adds to Joan’s humanity and charm.
It’s an emotional night for Joan and the band, especially for drummer Parker Kindred who became a dad the day before. Citing this small venue as the perfect setting for the band, no offence, Royal Festival Hall, and there’s no one here tonight who would disagree.
There’s plenty of stories tonight between the songs as she reveals a lot about her life, her upbringing and her father who passed away a few years back.
The improvised light show, no set list for the lighting guy, provide the perfect psychedelic backdrop to the often scuzzy sound of the songs. Musically the highlights for me were the funky new song ‘Tell Me’ and of the oldies ‘Christobel’.
The stop start nature of the performance given the issues and the uncomfortable heat did take away something from the overall show but a good night nonetheless with a woman blessed with a great voice that I think has influenced some of the newer female acts like Florence Welch and Courtney Barnett. Sadly though I don’t think she has a new convert in my wife but the point of music is to share with others and sometimes it will click and other times it will not.
Until the next time keep on rockin y’all