Music Review: Josephine Steals the Show
Article published: Thursday, August 27th 2009
Deaf Institute: Gideon Conn, Caulbearers and Kathryn Edwards
Friday 21st August
When Gideon Conn rang his bell for the second time no one imagined what was to come. He introduced Josephine. Slight in build, unassuming and smiling nervously, she crept onto the stage. Her entrance couldn’t have been in starker contrast to her performance. Confident, soulful and controlled, like a professional of infinite experience.
Accompanied by Conn on the keyboard her incredible voice moved all. People whooped and hollered at every pause. At the end they cried out for more.
She rewarded appreciation with a third beautiful song. Then left the stage all to soon, seemingly shell shocked from the adulation. I look forward to hearing her debut album out in November and a longer set.
Earlier in the night Caulbearers had performed an immaculate set. The seven piece heavy-groove orchestra had lifted the mood after a sombre performance from Kathryn Edwards.
Before I wandered into Kathryn’s half finished set I was already in a sour mood, my last conversation had ended “you can’t do anything, literally anything, without fucking over either people or the environment.” After a long silence I conceded my friend was probably right. I resigned to the gig for escape, sadly I found more misery.
Luckily the Caulbearers were soon on. I know it sounds a cliché but Caulbearers really do have a unique sound, incorporating jazz, folk, funk, afro-beat, and dub influences into their multi-layered sound.
It’s a heady mixture of cello, bass, sax, keyboards, guitar, congas and two singers, all held together by an fantastically laid back drummer who reminded me of Louie Theroux.
Songs were always melodic, interesting, tight and played with real feeling and emotion. They lifted you up and slammed you back down.
I preferred their more upbeat upbeat songs, such as Small Space, but maybe that was just the caffeine (I had spent the day drinking coffee and the evening drinking coke). The only criticism could be that the depth of sound could sometimes feel a bit muddled.
But the icing on their layer cake comes from singer Julie Gordon. Her mesmerizing hips and incredible vocals kept the audience gripped from start to finish. The northern diva almost broke her illusion when she asked for “a brew” in a strong Manc accent – until she added “Earl Grey” – presumably with lemon.
Gideon Conn followed. He took the audience to a totally different place. From the big, intense sound of the Caulbearers to ‘The Man Who Sells Fish’. Suddenly the audience was transported to a comedy cabaret with the musical clown Gideon Conn.
His music has character and humour. Excellent lyrics are matched by catchy tunes played brilliantly by him and the band that found its way into my heart.
His performance was beautifully interrupted three times, ringing his bell to welcome on stage special guests. Josephine, a trombone player and a rather dapper gentleman playing the spoons. It all added to the circus vibe.
I laughed out loud, I almost cried and for the duration of his set I escaped the world outside. It made me happy, and that, I think, was the point.
More: Culture, Manchester, Music
Comments
-
Josephine Oniyama is an amazing talent who should have made it big years ago – strange that she’s dropped the surname but maybe they thought that was what was holding her back. The Princess of Cheetham Hill indeed! Best of luck to her!
Comment by Sio on August 27, 2009 at 11:54 am -
[…] Go here to read the rest: Music Review: Josephine Steals the Show / MULE […]
Pingback by Music Review: Josephine Steals the Show / MULE | Review Gallery on August 27, 2009 at 1:08 pm -
[…] Conn followed. He took the audience to a totally different place. … The rest is here: Music Review: Josephine Steals the Show / MULE Share […]
Pingback by Music Review: Josephine Steals the Show / MULE | Today Headlines on August 27, 2009 at 3:04 pm
The comments are closed.
