The Society Of The Golden Slipper – Blacks – Soho, London – 20th May 2013

        But nevertheless it’s there that I’m shortly about to be 

Ahem.


Blimey this was fun. Thanks to a bit of luck and years of faithful devotion to the headliner and her brill songs (yes, I sound like a cheerleader, well, RAH! RAH! YAYYYYYYY!!!) I got invited to this titchy gig in a Soho private members club. Heading the bill was Kathryn ‘two- London-gigs-in-a-week-just-like-Muse-and-The-Stones’ Williams with supports from Nick Mulvey & Raevennan Husbandes. I hope they will not be offended if I admit that I didn’t know their work before the show.


The venue for the gig itself was little bigger than your average living room. Sofas, stools and hard floorboards were the choice of seating. Despite the lack of space, everyone was somehow accommodated within the TARDIS-like room and once windows were opened the breeze and hubbub of life in the street below gave the gig a unique atmosphere. 

With this show and the gig at the Old Queen’s Head, Islington  last week, hearing the new material that Kathryn has been working on has only made me keener to bore the arse off all my friends with my continued playing of the resulting album ‘Crown Electric’ once it is released in September.


‘Heart Shaped Stone’ is already becoming a firm favourite, just a simple ear-worm melody that gives the phrase’commercial’ a good name. Other new songs tonight were the gentle ‘Arwen’ and ‘Tequila’ (no relation to The Champs or Terrorvision hist of the same title) with its image of ‘salty smudged kiss on a computer screen’ with love delayed and deferred.


The night ended with requests for ‘Flicker’ and ‘Grey Goes’ (my shout). ‘Flicker’ was the first song of Kathryn’s I heard on what was once called GLR, Robert Elms’ show I think. There is a special something about it that I just can’t put my finger on. On the record its the dramatic silence after ‘quick goodbye’. Maybe its the memory of first hearing a new artist that you’d come to love. Whatever it is, it always feels like such a personal cry from the heart. 


‘Grey Goes’ always sounds a little unhinged both lyrically and musically, the guitar chords clashing, purposely sounding a little off-key and troubling. It builds to that deranged and unnerving shout – i just can’t get enough of the power and energy of performances like this. Astonishing   


https://www.facebook.com/KathrynWilliamsMusic
http://kathrynwilliams.co.uk/ 


Rarely do I go to gigs and come away with not only great memories of a favoured singer but also keen to find out and hear more from the support acts. Although tonight Nick and Raevennan felt like part of a complete experience then separate or minor parts. The audience treated everyone with the same level of attention, respect and enthusiasm. London crowds can often be so blase and intolerant so it was a pleasure to be among such polite people.


Thanks to all at Society Of Golden Slippers for organizing such a great event and managing to make a tiny gig welcoming, comfortable and relaxed. Rather than the cramped packed and endurance testing evenings that I have experienced elsewhere. May the road rise with you. 


To find out more about Society Of The Golden Slippers and their marvellous music nights go to:


https://www.facebook.com/societyofthegoldenslippers