Joanne Shaw Taylor - The Stables, Milton Keynes - 19th October 2015
Review & pics by Ant May
Unlike most shows I attend in London where it gets a lot busier in time for the headline act, audiences at the Stables are very good at turning up early to watch the support act as well, so the openers played to a full house at this sold-out date.
The support on the tour comes from Federal Charm, a Manchester based rock band. I must admit that it took me a couple of songs before I really warmed to them as there was a bit of an Indie-rock feel, but as they brought out more of the bluesy material I was more and more impressed and enjoyed their set.
By the time they departed they had definitely made plenty of new fans with many heading to the merchandise stand to buy copies of their album.
If you're going along to one of the dates on the tour, make sure you get down there early and give Federal Charm a listen.
Joanne Shaw Taylor got things off to a great start with the track Mud, Honey but between songs she soon found another unusual bit about audiences at The Stables - their tendency to be silent between songs once the applause dies down, leading Joanne to ask if people were still there, as it’s a bit unnerving being on stage and hearing nothing.
The first part of the set was a great electric performance as she played songs from her latest album and previous releases, but she then slowed things down, sitting to play two songs on acoustic guitar - the first one solo and then backed by her band for the second.
She talked to the audience about some of the songs; such as one that followed the end of a relationship, joking that it's the risk you take if you date a professional songwriter and are a shitty boyfriend.
She comes across as quiet and modest, jokingly referring to this live trek as the Greatest Hits tour.
As always Joanne played superbly, but it’s the guitar solos that really take things up a level – with those solos she really does demonstrate what a talented guitarist she is.
The set ended with Going home (a pretty apt choice), but after a short break Joanne and her band came back on stage for the encore, the title track of her latest album - The Dirty Truth.
A great end to a great night.
