Entertainment For Lively Minds
June Tabor & Oysterband
Posted by NigelT on 19 November 2011 - 9:52pm.
When:
13th November 2011
Where:
The Corn Exchange, Exeter
Comments:
This was a bit of a shot in the dark - I'd read the great reviews of the Ragged Kingdom album and was intrigued - I like my folk spiced with rock, and acts that take a chance with material, so this seemed to tick the boxes. We weren't disappointed - June Tabor was a mesmerising stage presence, and the Oysterband are fantastic musicialns. They played most of the new album, plus highlights from Freedom & Rain, and had the audience in thrall. The encore included White Rabbit, which brought the audience to their feet. If you get the chance, then see this tour, because it probably won't come round again. Live, these songs are even better than the album. The concert sound was extraordinary too.
A bonus was that most of the band came into the bar afterwards to chat and sign CDs etc. They are genuinely enjoying the new found attention and astonished at the acclaim. Producer of the album, Al Scott, couldn't believe the reviews.
The Audience:
The place was sold out, mostly by the 50 plus age group.
Food & Drink:
The venue has a decent bar and had Dartmoor Ale on at £2.80, which was good. Food? Er....crisps.
It Made Me Think...:
..that there is so much great music out there that I just haven't heard.
Same as that
I saw their show last night at Sale Waterside Arts centre. I was very impressed, not least with the sound which was superb. 6 oysterblokes, involving a fair bit of multi-instrumentalism, plus a singer whose every word needs to be hear. You could hear every note, and at a volume that was just right
Compare and contrast to Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at Belfast Waterfront Hall on Friday night. Where I was sitting, about 5 rows behind the desk, the sound in the first half was undeniably poor, with a particularly nasty boom coming off her guitar lower strings. When I pointed this out to the soundman he blamed the hall and suggested I try and find a seat in front of the desk! To be fair, a pal who was sitting in the second row told me the sound was splendid throughout. I don't know if yer man twiddled any knobs on my behalf but the second half was much better. But unlike the Tabor / Oyster gig, there's only 2 performers; that's 2 vocal mics and 2 acoustic instrument mics. My over-riding impression; this gig should have been much more enjoyable than it transpired
Thirded
Caught them (June Tabor and Oysterband, that is, not Gillian Welch) at the Sage Gateshead on what, it transpired, was the last night of the Ragged Kingdom tour. Absolutely mesmerising, with old favourites in amongst the new cd, encore of White Rabbit and band in the bar afterwards, as above. Brilliant.
Fourthed
Saw them at The Stables - and band and June Taborr were both absolutely superb.
They came out after the interval greatly bouyed up by their combined 4 nominations for the BBC Folk Awards. If they win one or two - best album, surely, and best traditional song for their astonishing take on "the bonny bunch of roses" - I expect there'll be another tour. They've already got some festival dates for next year.