Beth Orton & Clayhill
February 18th, 2006 11
Big thanks to Nash who took us to see Beth Orton & guests last night in Warwick. I’d not really heard any of her stuff before, and after last night still can’t say I’m a massive fan. Don’t get me wrong, she was good, just need to listen to more I think. In fact, for me, the best bit of last night was the “& guests” who turned out to be a band called Clayhill.
Clayhill are a scissor toting, xylophone playing 5 piece from (by the sounds of the guitarists accent) somewhere in the South West of England. Their blend of acoustic guitar and double bass funk was without doubt awesome. Awesome enough anyway to get me to buy not one but two of their albums in the interval.
Favorite song of the night had to be “So Far Out” (at least I think that’s what it was called), which continued some serious thrash-acoustic (yeah, it’s possible) and well timed silences which seemed to suck all the sound out of the room.
Also just gotta say a word about the bass player. This guy obviously has a real passion for music, and put his all into entertaining the people of Warwick last night. Everyone was Loving both the bass slides and the scissor work.
Anyway, if you get chance, go and check ‘em out. They’re on the whole of Beth’s UK tour.
11 Comments (+0 in the moderation queue).
#1 On February 18th, 2006 at 6:51 pm Daughteroftheking said...
Hah! it seems accoustic air guitar is in then!!
#2 On February 18th, 2006 at 7:10 pm Starberri said...
Ok. cool. bye.
#3 On February 19th, 2006 at 1:35 pm Nash said...
Hi Jon, this is my first ever post so please be gentle!
As a big fan of Beth Orton I was simply blown away by her live performance, the energy that she puts across is simply outstanding. Her gentle manner and emotionally charged voice mean that I’m now even more in love with her than before.
Whilst much of night was dedicated to the new album, the acoustic renditions of her older works were for me particular highlights. The deeply heart felt performance of “I wish I never saw the sunshine” was particularly fantastic and I really wish the show hadn’t had to end.
For all those who have never heard Beth Orton’s work please do, and for the iPod generation a selection of my favourite tracks are as follows;
She Cries Your Name
Someone’s Daughter
I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine
Sweetest Decline
Pass In Time
Blood Red River
Devil Song
this one’s gonna bruise
Really everyone should just buy all of her albums! (“Trailer Park”, “Central Reservation”, “daybreaker” and the new release “Comfort of Strangers”)
Finally, a big thank you to Jon, Sarah and Hanna for coming along, I could so easily have missed out if it hadn’t been for you.
P.S. Can someone please work out if the supporting guitarist (far left of stage) was a man or a woman for Hanna!
#4 On February 20th, 2006 at 12:35 pm Starberri said...
Hey dude, do I get a mention in your del.ici.ous links?
#5 On February 21st, 2006 at 8:14 pm Han Kemp said...
im telling you! it was a woman!!!!
my name is spelt Hannah by the way nash
#6 On February 21st, 2006 at 8:17 pm John Pringle said...
Clayhill are a three piece from the Midlands, the guitarist and double bassist are session players.
Guitarist is Nick from christiansilva, my fave new band
Check him/them out
www.myspace.com/christiansilva
www.myspace.com/theleisuresociety
#7 On February 21st, 2006 at 8:22 pm Nash said...
Sorry Hannah, misspelling a girls name is just a sign of affection you know!
I think to settle the man/woman issue Jon should track down some of that amazing ‘zoom as much as you like’ software from shows such as CSI. Using this he will then be able to tell us the answer from his photos. So get to it Jon.
#8 On February 21st, 2006 at 10:46 pm Jon said...
John: Cheers, I’ll give them a listen!
Nash: Tut tut, spelling Hannah’s name wrong, you’d never catch me doing that!
#9 On February 23rd, 2006 at 5:39 pm Andrakis photo lover said...
Love how the electic light ads some magic atmosphere to this concert picture.
#10 On February 24th, 2006 at 4:24 pm sofia said...
really I’mm very fan of him
#11 On March 20th, 2006 at 9:27 pm Rich said...
It was my 1st time seeing Beth Orton live. Not my usual scene. But loved it the total honesty of the performance. Loved Clayhill and couldn’t wait to get their album afterwards. Beth Orton really needs a guitar tech or a good joke book. If you were there you’ll know what i’m on about. Although her performance on a whole was flawless. Am even bigger fan now