Artist:Eve Selis
Venue:The Cluny
Town:Newcastle
Date:09/07/09
Website:http://www.eveselis.com
Support for the evening came from a new name to some- Lucy Wainright Roche. If the name sounds familiar that is probably due to the fact that she the daughter of Loudon Wainright III and Suzy Roche, and half sister of Rufus and Martha Wainright. I had already seen Lucy perform when she opened for Eddi Reader way back last year, so was looking forward to hearing another set by her.
It was immediately evident that she is very down to earth as she laughed and joked with the audience, telling stories of her travels and demonstrated her easy sense of humour. She began talking, joking that she’s been on the road alone for almost two and a half years, so has a lot to say!
A variety of songs followed, including the Richard Shindell penned Next Best Western, about life on the road, and A and E, written after a date ended in a collapsed lung and a trip to the hospital. Talking about Coney Island, a place she loves, she told us the story behind an as yet un named song, asking for us to share our thoughts on it with her later, she played s song of regret at the demolition of the Astroland Rocket.
Lucy used to be a teacher and ended her set with a request, which she told us always reminds her of a little boy in her class. Asking everyone to join in, a beautiful version of Wild Mountain Thyme followed, which really demonstrated the beauty of her voice. One thing was very clear from the applause she received and the queue at her merchandise stand - by the end of this tour she will have deservedly added to her ever growing fanbase here in the UK.
Eve Selis and her ‘work husband’ as they later joked, Marc Twang, took to the stage after a short break. This was the first time I had seen them perform as a duo rather than with the Eve Selis band, so I was looking forward to seeing a slightly different dynamic to the performance. The The first thing that had to strike anyone, was the huge smile lighting up Eve’s face as she took to the stage; her sheer joy to be on stage sharing what she loves to do, and to be back in the UK amongst friends and fans, is unmistakable. This evening we were to be treated to some old favourites as well as some newer material recorded on Eve and Marc’s recent duo CD, 10 Songs on Six Strings.
Launching straight into one of my personal favourites, Pocket Full of Stones, Eve captured the attention of all present and most definitely started as she meant to go on. This was followed by a wonderful surprise; a stunning cover of Witness To Your Life by Lori McKenna. The whole time she sang, there was a smile which suggested she was thinking of her husband back home in San Diego. That’s Enough was followed by The Gift, inspired by Marc’s son Sam. This prompted a discussion about children in musical families and how Eve is convinced her son, Henry, who recently turned two, will be a singing drummer. This enhanced the difference in the dynamic of the duo show, not only is it just Eve’s voice and Marc’s guitar, the two have a chance to spark off each other which doesn’t happen so much in band shows.
Talking of friends of theirs, the California duo Berkley Hart, Eve told us the story behind one of her favourite songs of theirs, Sink or Swim, about a Sheriff in a small town in the USA who went back to rescue some teenagers during a flood. Ironically, they had simply gone another way and the last words he was heard to say were ‘Here comes the water.’ A very touching story, indeed.
Russellville followed, their story of getting lost on ‘backroads in Kentucky..’ It has been a long time joke that they always get lost in the UK but this time Eve shared her delight that she had not only driven for the first time here, she had driven on the A1 and had driven into the city. Cue applause!
Rubber and Glue is a great tongue in cheek song written with Doug Crider (better known as Suzy Bogguss’ husband), when a friend of hers back home was going through divorce. The title comes from an old childhood rhyme to the effect of ‘I am rubber you are glue, it bounces of me and sticks on you,’ relating to the age old idea that what goes around comes around.
Turning her voice to the awesome She, Eve proved that she can even sing the great Gram Parsons. I always think that the song could actually have been written about her - “.....she sure could sing....oh yes, that girl could sing.”
Next came one of the most poignant moments I can recall in live music...telling us that she had recently been through an incredibly painful experience (she didn’t divulge on stage so I won’t here) she told us this song was written with long time collaborators Kim McLean and Devon O’Day. Eve said the song is essentially about not wanting to cry but it ended up being the very thing to make her cry. She also pointed out that sometimes you need someone who is outside of the situation to describe how your heart is feeling. Fighting back tears throughout the song, Eve’s emotion was raw and palpable as it cascaded from the stage through the audience. The lyrics of the song are such that I suspect all of us can, or will relate to them at some time in our lives.
Eve was clearly quite overcome by the emotion at the end of the song, but ever the professional, she wiped the tears from her eyes and followed Marc’s lead, clearly knowing she just needed to keep going. Thus another Lori McKenna song was delivered, in the form of Drinkin’ Problem, delivered with absolute conviction. Eve commented that Lori is both highly talented and highly underrated and I would have to agree. Anyone familiar with Faith Hill may recognise her name. I had never thought of it before, but hearing Eve sing her material it seemed so obvious that she should; both women possess a similar and equally distinctive gravelly voice, which adds a certain depth to the lyrics.
This was followed by Eve’s now iconic song about a San Diego ghost, The Ballad of Kate Morgan, which she preceded with the story of the Hotel del Coronado and the tragic story of Kate - was it suicide or ws was it murder? - and a joke about the age of the hotel – old by American standards!
Without the band present, it is almost more striking how expressive Eve is, both with her face and her hands, which she uses to draw you into the story and to her space on stage and to hold you there until she is ready to let you go. This, in my experience, makes her truly unique.
As Eve and Marc eased into Angels and Eagles, the touching title song from Eve’s last album, she looked round the room making eye contact and not just with those whom she knew or recognised lovely way to show the audience they are appreciated and valued. This was followed by a great cover of the Neil Young classic Needle and the Damage Done
The final song of the evening came all too soon, as Marc let rip for a stunning guitar introduction for One Day at a Time. He is such a talented musician and at times as he played his hands moved so fast you couldn’t see them touch the frets of his guitar. Even on a small stage, Eve bounced around, dancing as he played. As Eve joined in, we were given some great advice, that ‘The only way to get through life....the secret to your happiness is one day at a time.’
Returning for an encore, Eve spoke about how great she thought Lucy Wainright Roche was and playing back to us video she had taken of us singing along to Wild Mountain Thyme, she asked a member of the audience to take some video with her Flip Video. Then she ran back and dragged Lucy back onstage with her to sing I Saw the Light. Lucy was at first a little reluctant, but Eve laughed and joked and eventually we were all singing the chorus in unison. Lucy then escaped the stage to allow Eve and Marc to enjoy rapturous applause from their appreciative fans in Newcastle, who are already awaiting her return.
Until then, I think if we could all learn to take Eve’s advice to take One Day at a Time, we would be able to appreciate the really special things, such as wonderful gigs like this, even more, aswell as the memories it has undoubtedly left behind.
Helen Mitchell
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