Venue:
Birmingham Town Hall
Date: 21/03/2015
Gretchen was in fine voice last night and her band including husband Barry Walsh and Christine Bougiew on lap steel and drums were tremendous. It helped that the sound was crystal clear. The first set featured mainly songs from new album Blackbirds but also a wonderful version of Tom Russell’s Guadalupe which is a uniquely beautiful song which if anything Gretchen has made her own. The second set started with Gretchen alone at the piano for Independence Day and her voice soared. During this second set the highlights were five minutes and Idlewild from her last album and at the end a duet between her and Barry covering John Prine’s In spite of Ourselves which was a lovely end to a great night.
The audience:
Perhaps only three quarters full which was a shame. Nonetheless they were hugely appreciative of the performance and the standing ovation at the end visibly moved Gretchen to tears. Oh and there was a marriage proposal. The lady said yes!! The guy must have been brave to do that publicly.
It made me think..
Nights like these are special but it is a tad annoying for me that the people of Birmingham don’t come out in larger numbers for a show of this quality. They don’t know what they are missing.
bungalowjoe says
She appears to keep improving all the time
Carl says
I’m looking forward to seeing her next Wednesday.
Her King’s Place data there has sold out, so they have added another.
I might have to join Twitter so I can make a song request – I love Little World from Hello Cruel World, and I spoke to Twang on Friday and he mentioned she hadn’t played it.
Twang says
I saw her at the Stables on Wednesday – fantastic. The slightly expanded band (bass/double bass and Christine on drums as well as guitar and lap steel) adds heft but Gretchen’s voice has no difficulty coping with the extra muscle. I speak as a long term fan since her first album…..but….but…a few of the songs from the new album aren’t, I have to say, as strong as some of her others. I’d have given anything for “Child of mine” or “The aviator’s song”or “5 minutes” for example. But it was still still wonderful. Frankly most songwriters would be hitting career best by writing one of Gretchen’s B list. She could have done a whole set of other songs and it would still have been fab.
SteveT says
5 Minutes was a definite highlight last night. I think possibly the songs on Hello Cruel World collectively were a career peak. However Independence day and On a bus to St..Cloud served as timely reminders that she has been writing top notch songs for a long time. You are in for a treat Carl.
Steerpike says
Such a lovely song
Vulpes Vulpes says
I’m sorry I didn’t write a Nights Out myself last week, having seen Gretchen at St. Georges in Bristol on Tuesday last. It sounds like she is on an absolute roll at the moment – we had a very similar set structure to how you have described the Birmingham gig, with a stunning “Five Minutes” that had me struggling to hold back a tear.
And we got possibly one extra tweak – a brave girl sat behind me called out, “Gretchen?” “Hi, yes?” came the response; “Is it at all possible that you might do “When you Are Old” for us please?”. Gretchen looked delighted by the request, said, “My, she’s so bold!”, and turned to Barry with a smile; “We were going to finish with “St. Cloud”, but hey, let’s do both!. Huge applause, followed by goose bump delivery of both songs. It didn’t end there of course either, because we got the John Prine duet as well!
Anyone who has the chance to see her on this tour, but doens’t make the effort, is losing out big time. She’s a absolute treasure, and playing at the top of her game.
Vulpes Vulpes says
And I STILL can’t edit any of my posts. ARSE.
Baron Harkonnen says
If Stevie T and Foxy are recommending it seems that I am going to have to investigate – album recommendations gents, please.
Vulpes Vulpes says
The others have got there ahead of me. There’s something to make you stop and be astonished on every single album. ‘Secret Of Life’ and ‘Hello Cruel World’ were where I started, and both are superb. I bought the ‘One To The Heart, One To The Head’ joint album with Tom Russell at Tuesday’s gig (that’s going in the car this coming week for the drive to work). You won’t be disappointed with any of these.
daff says
You can’t really go wrong with any of her albums! As good a way as any is to start with The Secret of Life which includes ‘On a Bus…..’ Then the self titled follow up which, despite having more ‘production,’ I still think is her best.
SteveT says
Hello Cruel World is a phenomenal album not least because of 5 minutes. Baron as I know you are a fan of Tom Russell you should get the album she recorded with him too One from the head, one from the heart. I am slightly biased with this one because I believe Guadalupe may be one of the best songs that Tom Russell has written (and he has written a few). Sung by Gretchen it is incredibly moving.
One of the things that stood out about the show was how good a musician Barry Walsh is – excellent on both piano and accordion.
Baron Harkonnen says
Got the TR/GP album Steve, will be following up the tips from yourself and daff, thanks.
Twang says
I love all of them and can’t disagree with comments made, but I particularly like “Halycon” she had some real difficulties with her son, previously daughter who realised he’s train gender. Listen to “Child of mine” and if you don’t have something in your eye call 999 immediately as you are clinically dead. It also has “The Aviator’s song” about her relationship with and finally saying goodbye to her father – I saw her reduce an entire theatre to blubbering wrecks with this one on the Wine Womenand Song tour. Stream the album here…
http://www.gretchenpeters.com/music/halcyon/
Twang says
Train being trans of course. Thanks autocorrect.
Junior Wells says
the greatest hits Circus Girl is good too – pre Hello Cruel World
Badlands says
I don’t know how I missed this one ! Either I thought it was sold out ages ago, or I’d got it into my head that the nearest show to me was The Stables (which is a bit of a step) until a friend posted this on Facebook last night – Damn! Glad you had a great night SteveT.
Twang says
Incidentally her website is excellent. You can stream the songs, all the lyrics are there and she does a regular free download usually of something live. Also for each song she has a bit of explanation of how she wrote it/ what it’s about etc.
Baron Harkonnen says
Thanks everyone, I`ve ordered the `best of` and will probably get more once I`ve been on her site. I`ve run out of funds for this week after going a bit mad on the CD stall at the Prog3 Festival this weekend and Cob records in Portmadoc. Americana and Prog a great mix!
Twang says
I’ve got a spare copy of Hello Cruel World, Baron. PM me your address and I’ll pop it in the post.
Baron Counterpane says
I’ve only just discovered Gretchen Peters and I’ve already declared Blackbirds my album of 2015. Just can’t see it getting beaten.
One of the great story-telling songwriters.
Twang says
Wait till you hear Cruel World.