Oli Brown & Dana Fuchs - Newcastle 17-4-12

With a bill like that, it was always going to be an interesting and exciting evening and it fully lived up to expectations. First thing to be said, the room was well attended but not packed as would have been expected. I don’t think it was Howard Jones playing downstairs as much as Ian Anderson across town at City Hall, tempting folk away; that and it being a mid-week date.

So, first up was the highly anticipated Dana, on, I think, only here 2nd UK visit. She didn’t have the full band, but just sidekick Jon Diamond on guitar and harmonica…Did I say “just”? They guy was nothing short of superb. What we got was a stripped down 35 minute set, with a very loose, improvised feel to it; Dana setting up the songs, telling the often personal and tragic story behind each one, Songbird in particular. She closed, right on time with a storming take on Randy Newman’s God Song. I was going to avoid the cliche comparisons to Janis and Etta, but I’ve just messed that up, so lets say there’s a touch of Vinegar Joe's Elkie in there too; powerful yet intimate. The feel of Dana’s set was like a “blind date” where both parties are obviously interested in each other, but not wanting to dive straight in, just feeling each other out. Well, I can safely say as far as Newcastle goes, Dana, you’ve made the 2nd date….call me….

And then, Mr. Brown: 2 years almost to the month since I first caught Oli, at the same venue and he still walks out and lights up the room. New album on the table, so this is chapter 3 and straight away he’s blazing on all 6 strings. Doubtless Wayne has something to do with this more “rocky” Oli but you can still tell where the previous 2 albums have been put in the mix and given something extra. Ron Sayer’s influence is there on a couple of the earlier, written songs, but new boy Scott Barnes takes up the bass and backing vocals, seemlessly. Looks like Oli has scored again in the backing/support. Seems this year, everytime I turn up at a gig, Wayne’s there: I half expected him being behind the Nimmo’s last week - apparently he was asked, but “day job” takes priority…shows what demand he’s in.

Here I Am, Mr Wilson and Devil In Me have already been road-tested, but most of the rest of the album tracks were aired and bloody good they are too. Solid Ground was a standout and if anyone’s going to one of Oli’s shows, watchout for a blazing Black Keys cover that’s only available on a forthcoming (probable US release) tribute album on Cleopatra label. Another cover, this time on the album, had Oli giving a great performance vocally as well as on the Tele; the Don Hathaway (Al Kooper written) I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know: really powerful stuff, but gotta wonder, what would have been if Oli & Dana combined….On Top Of The World, Evil Soul, Speechless & No Diggity were the mainstays of the back catalogue, can’t remember if Open Road was revisited.

Haven’t played the new album yet, but from what I heard last night it’s vying with Mitch Laddie and Nimmo Brothers as one of the best releases so far this year. Good to bump into Britbabe & daughter among the 100-120 audience.

Mike