Artist:Boo Hewerdine & Kim Richey
Venue:The Cluny 2
Town:Newcastle
Date:08/06/09
This is the first time I have attended a gig at The Cluny 2, formerly The Round, since the management of The Cluny next door took it over. I have to say they have done a great job; a particularly welcome feature is the ever changing exhibition of photographs taken at various gigs by the Jumpin' Hot Club's photographer.
First onto the stage was Ohio born singer songwriter Kim Richey. It is hard to believe that anyone could have not heard her name in the last twenty years, such are the artists who have recorded her songs; Trisha Yearwood, Kathy Mattea, Eve Selis, Radney Foster, Brooks and Dunn, to name but a few. She has spent the last few years in London on and off , yet despite this her tour dates have been few. I last saw Kim open for Trisha Yearwood in Manchester over a decade ago and suspect that like me, many have been waiting for her to venture to Newcastle.
Kim is clearly very down to earth and a natural on stage; she had the audience in the palm of her hand from the outset as she introduced the title song from her most recent album Chinese Boxes. It emerged that the song was inspired by the film Casino Royale and a line spoken by one of the characters that when you take the lids off, people are not really all that interesting; Kim joking that she knows people like that. I suspect that in truth we all do.
Kim's natural, laid back way with the audience continued as she treated us to a selection of her well known pop-country-folk offerings; I know, Love Like This, Straight as the Crow Flies and by request, the beautiful Fading from the Rise CD. No sooner had she demonstrated that she is as much a performer as a writer, she introduced a song to appear on her upcoming Cd Wreck Your Wheels. Inspired by late night walks around London and one in particular where it snowed, the song is called Careful How You Go. An ethereal piece of writing, painting a vivid picture with words and demonstrated that she is highly underrated as a writer and should be up there in her place with the best of them.
Ending her much too short set with another Trisha Yearwood hit I'm Alright, again a request, she asked everyone to join in; "It's okay, it's dark, nobody will see." After much applause the audience reluctantly let her leave the stage with assurances she's play a couple of songs with Boo, later. One thing was certain, I am sure, in everyone's minds. Kim Richey is nobody's opening act.
Boo Hewerdine is a significant presence on the UK folk scene and has a good following. I had seen him perform a couple of years ago and have to say I enjoyed this gig far more. He just seemed more at ease and had far more joking and banter with the audience; more than once he had everyone laughing aloud, not least when someone called out 'What on earth is he talking about?' as he introduced a well known song. Thankfully he took the comment in good humour...
I have to admit that I rate him more highly as a songwriter than as a performer, though I loved hearing his versions of well known songs he wrote for long time friend and collaborator Eddi Reader. Such songs as Patience of Angels, Bell, Book and Candle and Follow my Tears, cannot fail to move you. You can't beat hearing the songwriter's version of a song they wrote; it's like hearing an author read an excerpt from their own book.
Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar we were introduced to a selection of songs from his upcoming CD, interspersed with better known fare such as the beautiful Harvest Gypsies, Bible Pages.
Calling Kim back onto the stage, the musical duo ended the evening by performing two new songs they have recently written together, one due to appear on each of their new CDs. Taking the lead on the song they are to record, the other offered harmony which was a lovely opportunity to hear how well their voices blend together. This was especially true when Ms Richey harmonised, her early days as a session musician showing as she effortlessly stepped up and pulled back in all the right places.
The applause at the end of the evening was staggering and judging from the comments around the room I suspect both will be back with their own shows very soon.
Helen Mitchell
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