Reviews / Thunderous applause for Americana duo
SOMETIMES you can just feel it in the air. I’m sure you know what I mean, that pre-event buzz and sense of anticipation that occasionally vents itself ahead of a concert featuring someone the audience can’t wait to see and believe to be the “real deal”.
It’s Tuesday evening in downtown Lerwick and the atmosphere I refer to above is certainly palpable in Mareel tonight. It’s generated by the visit of Alabama’s Jason Isbell, who’s undertaking a short UK tour with his wife and musical cohort Amanda Shires – a trip that includes a high profile appearance at the “cream-of-the-crop”, always sold-out Cambridge Festival.
Now they are appearing in our own back yard courtesy of another husband and wife team Neil and Kelly Riddell of locally based Ragged Wood Promotions in association with Shetland Arts.
So what’s actually creating the buzz around Mr Isbell? Is it the fact that he spent six years as part of that wonderful Alabaman power-house of a band Drive-By Truckers, or the fact that he’s subsequently built a hugely successful solo career alongside his new band the 400 Unit – named after a mental health facility in his home state? Or is it the fact he’s recently scooped a prestigious Americana Music Award, or that he’s also shared the stage with luminaries such as Ryan Adams, Alison Krauss and the legendary Willie Nelson no less?
Yep, it’s all of those and perhaps more besides. Take it from those who know, Jason Isbell is most certainly the “real deal” and it seems that Shetland is already well aware of that fact too.
First up though it falls to our own Sheila Henderson to ignite the evening. Joined halfway through her set by Ivor ‘Fred’ Polson on bass and Jenny Keldie on keyboard, fiddle and vocals, Sheila blends her self-penned material with well chosen cover versions which, as always, she effortlessly makes sound entirely her own.
The highlight of these for me is a great rendition of ‘High Sierra’, lifted from the Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt album ‘Trio’ – although with so much terrific material of her own currently on offer we can only hope that Sheila’s long awaited third album must surely see the light of day before too long.
Following a very short interval an attractive, diminutive figure then slips quietly and unannounced onto the stage – catching the audience a bit by surprise – before breaking into a haunting, a cappella, lovelorn song.
“That’s my only happy song tonight” quips Amanda Shires, whose solo musical approach turns out to be every bit as sparse as her stage outfit. Accompanying herself on ukulele only, her relaxed, incisive vocals cut beautifully through the hushed auditorium, while she also regales us with stories of garfish, hippies, Siberian tiger claws and not wanting to get herself on Leonard Cohen’s blacklist.
“I usually have a set list and it has only two words on it – don’t talk”, she laughs. “But I forgot it tonight”. She then invites husband Isbell to join her onstage for the latter part of what turns out to be a thoroughly engaging solo set.
After another short break the stage is set for Isbell himself – although it’s not long before Shires returns to impressively accompany him on fiddle and backing vocals on a set which draws primarily from his more recent solo material.
Perhaps not surprisingly there’s a wonderful and natural empathy at work here – both musical and personal – although it’s safe to say that happiness appears to be in short supply in Isbell’s musical world.
Songs such as ‘Different Days’, ‘Cigarettes and Wine’, ‘Travelling Alone’ and ‘Decoration Day’ are raw and confessional, taking us on a dark, ragged journey with only loneliness, desperation, death, lost love and dingy bars as our travelling companions – although occasionally the merest glimmer of optimism does peek through.
The songs may be stripped-bare Americana in this particular acoustic context, but Isbell’s earlier rock roots still show through. He has a powerful, immense, melodic voice – although you almost get the impression he’s still holding back somewhat on its full decibel potential nevertheless.
Having treated us to an impressive combined set that extends over a dark but very healthy and hugely enjoyable two hours the duo departs the stage to thunderous applause.
They return for a richly deserved encore including their only ‘cover’ of the evening – a version of the late Warren Zevon’s ‘Mutineer’. Cue more thunderous appreciation, which tells its own story. Shetland fully agrees that Jason Isbell – and yes Amanda Shires too – are indeed very much the “real deal” and will be more than welcome back again anytime.
Davie Gardner
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