Joanne Shaw Taylor
Artrix, Bromsgrove
BROUGHT up just along the M42 in Solihull, so this was almost a homecoming for Joanne Shaw Taylor with two sell out nights at the Artrix.
Already an artist of international standing and heavily influenced by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and his Texas blues, Joanne was ‘nursing’ her battered Fender, Albert, who had been suffering at the hands of low budget baggage handling.
Fortunately, it both looked and sounded good as she cut loose with songs from her latest release ‘Dirty Truth’ which is nearer an outright rock album, and with heavy guitar riffs taking centre stage, ‘Albert’, seemed to have recovered well.
The mellowed sound of the Gibson, was ‘Tried Tested And True’, before a couple of gems from, ‘Diamonds In The Dirt’, a rough cut title track, and a beautifully faceted, ‘Lord have Mercy’.
A nice little solo acoustic gave her band a break, a poignant and heartfelt, ‘Almost Always Never’, followed by the excellent rhythmic, tub thumping, ‘Army Of One’. Back to the rock riffs and finishing up with some ‘Dirty Truth’.
Support came from four piece blues rock band, Federal Charm, cut in the mould of Led Zeppelin, with a splash of Indie style and already receiving great reviews.
But with two nights of sell out concerts at The Artrix and with much of the UK tour already sold out, the night belonged to Joanne Shaw Taylor.
Graham Munn
