I was there last night. It was all very peaceful in Oxford Street, although there was something of a storm going down on stage inside the 100 Club. Chantel played several of her new songs which will feature on her album. The newest of the the new songs she played were Like No Other, Fabulous and Caught Out, all of which I believe she wrote in the autumn last year. I'll recall the set list as best I can, but have probably left something out, and will edit this with any additions.
Bridge To Better Days
New Day Yesterday
Like No Other
Lenny
Help Me
High
Freefalling
Fabulous
I'm No Good For You - solo
Rhiannon - solo
All Along The Watchtower - solo, audience request
Cat Song - solo
Caught Out
Up In The Sky - audience request
Mountain Time
Had To Cry Today - encore
The new songs were excellent, both lyrically and musically, my personal favourite being Like No Other, the title track to the album. I believe that many of the songs are going to sound a lot different on the album to the live versions. There was one difficult moment for Chantel when her new amp suddenly died at the start of her solo in I'm No Good For You, the first song of her solo section. The spare amp needed to be retrieved. Chantel responded by switching to acoustic guitar to perform the solo, and then took the song in a new direction which I hadn't heard before. It ended up being the best version I've heard of this. I'm really looking forward to hearing this on the album. It will take a lot more than these technical problems to knock Chantel out of her stride.
The highlights of the set for me were an incredibly powerful long intro to New Day Yesterday with some lacerating lead guitar which had the audience roaring in approval, one of the best Lenny's I've heard, Help Me (a personal favourite) and the two heavyweight epics, Mountain Time and Had To Cry Today which closed the show. I'm always pleased when Chantel can fit these two into the same set list, what a finish!
Once again, Chantel was there to greet the fans at the door. And as always from Chantel, another two hour gig giving everything she'd got, and all of the band were in great form. It was a special night. Chantel was also able to announce that the band will be back at the 100 Club in October.
Steve
. 
.
