Eleanor McEvoy

Comments on Eleanor McEvoy's latest album stated, "Think female, redneck, middle period, Van Morrison". However, rather than a balding lady with a paunch taking the stage, a pretty, slim girly won the race to the microphone (although I admit she had an Celtic lilt). The Irish singer/songwriter took to the stage of a Alexander's Club in Chester.

This is a really nice, cosy little venue that caters mainly for jazz, blues and comedy evenings. Tonight it was the folk crew. With a mellow feel to the place (as well as a jar of cookies on the counter of the bar) it was very homely.

First impressions were of a very talented musician with a solid versatile voice and stage presence to match. As she started the first number of the evening, it was apparent that the lyrics were also to be a joy "You'll have to kiss a lots of frogs before you meet your prince." she informed the middle aged, (middle class?) crowd. McEvoy herself commented on the fact that some of the relationship problems that she sings about would make even the Walton's have fights all the time. She sang of internet dating ads, being dumped by email and finding a text on a cheating lovers mobile phone. All aspects of modern day human frailty commented on with humour and melody and musical talent. On the track 'Isn't it a little late?' she used the body of her guitar as a drum in a Newton Faulkner type of way. On some of these tracks she would use voice only, some acoustically and one she performed solely with vocals and bass guitar.

The tour is aiming to promote her new album 'Love Must be Tough' in which she covers songs originally sung and written by men. Themes of love, romance and loss are tackled from a woman's perspective, rather than the normal blokes view (i.e. the price of beer or Ronaldo's 'step over'). The choice of covers is eclectic. She started with a smashing version of the Rolling Stones' 'Mother's Little Helper'. Stripped down, and one forgets what a good song this is. The first half of the set closes with an eerie 'Ave Maria-like' chorus then a gusty blues song 'The Way You Wear Your Troubles'.

The second half McEvoy started with another cover from her album, Sly Stone's 'If You Want Me To Stay', performed with one of those big round bashy Irish drums things (yes I know, a bodhrán). Next song is the single 'Old, New, Borrowed And Blue', co-written with The Beautiful South's Dave Rotheray. Leapfrogging through a version of 'I Knew The Bride Before She Used To Rock And Roll' were a couple of 'Riverdance' fiddle-like interludes, and then a gutsy version of Dylan's 'I'll Be Your Baby Tonight'with a crowd singalong encouraged. The evening ended with just enough time for a couple of requests for an encore. 'Only A Woman's Heart Can Know' was fantastic, although it made me feel slightly ashamed to be a fella.

Before going to review tonight's gig I knew little about Eleanor McEvoy apart from;
a. One of her recent albums 'Yola' has been adopted by the hi-fi community to test speakers and amplifiers.

b. One of her compositions co-written with Caroline Lavelle , 'All I Have' features in the USA television series Six Feet Under.

I have now learnt that this is a lady who has released six previous albums but isn't a household name (the way some of the newly arrived female vocalists are). She definitely should be. Small intimate venues like Alexander's will, of course, suit her style and she showed more sides to her musical aptitude than a fifty pence piece. Normally renowned for her own song writing abilities, tonight's renditions of other peoples compositions were really rather good.

Nice gig. Nice venue. Nice cookies.

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