There’s not enough clog-dancing at gigs. This is a sentiment likely to be shared by all that witnessed the Northumberland Mercury Prize nominee’s characteristically impressive show at London’s elegant Union Chapel, where the sisters Unthank engaged in some lively traditional folk dances to accompany their set highlight ’Lousy Cutter’. The name of the band’s a bit of a misnomer- although Rachel is the ringleader of sorts her sister Becky is just as much the star of the show, lending her more distinctive, husky vocals to the likes of Blue Bleezing Blind Drunk, a gorgeous piano ballad with a touch of Danny Elfman about it. The set’s pretty similar to their previous London shows, complete with Becky’s Robert Wyatt cover and a Shetland folk song performed without amplification (which brilliantly showed off the wonderful acoustics of the venue) but in honour of the occasion they added an festive song written by their father which was fantastically complimented by the twinkling Christmas trees and rings of flickering candles that adorned the church. Normally I wouldn’t touch trad folk with a bargepole, but anyone witnessing their rousing communal sing-along closer “Fareweel Regality” couldn’t help but be swept away by their charismatic twists on a traditional formula.
I’d also like to mention support Felix Lajko, whose self-indulgent showboating may have got pretty dull after 40 minutes, but dear God he knows how to play a violin. I’d sell my soul to be half as good a violinist as he is…
(Photo: Bart Wee (Flickr))
No comments:
Post a Comment