Now, a little history, are you ready? The venue was none other than The Wedgewood Rooms. An absolute favourite venue of mine, tiny, dingy and always promises an epic gig. In fact, the venue where I first saw Reel Big Fish play. Now that really WAS a long time ago. This is the venue, is none other, than where rock legends Nirvana played their first ever UK gig, which set off a long-standing love affair with the infamous American Rock band. AND fact fans, if that wasn’t quite enough for you, I used to live on the very road next to The Wedgewood Rooms, none other than Harold Road (I was however BANNED from going and knocking on the door and seeing who lived in my old house. Boo.)
However, back to the music. The evening started with a support band called The Pins. A three-piece girl band, belonging to that newfound rockabilly subculture. Of 1940’s styling, their music was beautifully harmonised and wonderfully sung. They played a good set and plugged their EP and fan sites a good few times – they were good and they showed good potential, you could see from the fact that they were a tad samey in their songs that they are a young band, although many a band have progressed through a career of producing samey songs and succeeded.
Definitely a band, from more, I would check out, however I feel there may be a slight name change a-brewing, as after a few attempts googling I have found another band of the same name. Never a good start, when introducing yourself to the music world, I look forward to a time when more of their music is available.
A few beats later and on came Laura Marling. Here I feel I must be honest, I was a tad worried about seeing Laura perform again. I saw her a long time ago, when she was supported by Jay Jay Pistolet. This was the first time I saw her perform and was in love with her style, the fact that she was so unassuming and you felt like she was really showing you a part of her soul.
Anyway, I was worried that since the likes of Radio 1 and the mainstream world have clocked on to her that she wouldn’t be as pure as she was before.
She opened with ‘Devil Spoke’, which was beautiful and moving and I was instantly reassured that this was one who would not be affected by the likes of ‘fame’. Laura then explained that the band would be playing a few new tracks, which she appreciated was annoying when you go to a gig, as she goes to gig’s herself and understands how it feels, however the new tracks were awesome and beautiful and everything you expect from a folk singer who has definitely found her way and is carving her musical path.
A heckler exclaimed partway through the gig ‘I love you Laura’ to which she was left awkward, a little unnerved and explained ‘I never really know how to reply when people shout things out’. You could literally feel the crowd simultaneously falling in love with her and offering her a hug.
The gig was beautiful, pure and everything I hoped it would be. Laura has the ability to make you forget you are in a sweaty, crowded gig and in fact takes you to another place entirely (admittedly, she makes me feel like I should be lying in a field, staring into the sky and smoking weed – but she just has that floaty folk vibe, I’m not a stoner, yea?!)
Another fabulous gig, by a girl who can only go onto the bigger and better things. The gig ended by Laura exclaiming, ‘We are trying to revolutionise the gig world and we believe we are not big enough to do an encore.’ Explaining, maybe if (they) were as big as Madonna (they) could warrant standing off stage for 5 minutes before coming back on to play. Something she was doing the first time I saw her.
I have to say, in a world where some musicians seem to believe they are God’s gift to the world it is so wonderfully refreshing to see an artist so humble and completely unassuming of her talent. Long may she continue to produce some beautiful music.
Laura Marling
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