Review: Lindi Ortega, Thekla

Lindi Ortega is back in the UK with a brand new recording Faded Gloryville and fresh from US dates including an appearance at the legendary Grand Ole Opry. She’s also been awarded CCMA Roots Artist of Year for the second year running and that shows in the live set.

Ortega writes great songs: whilst Country is a good catch-all description it’s the roots element that counts and although her songs are totally contemporary they’re steeped in roots music. So there’s an irrepressible Rockabilly groove to Run Amuck and Run Down Neighbourhood but Cigarettes & Truckstops and The Day You Die have a more traditional country feel, albeit free of sequins and the more tawdry aspects of C&W.

Meanwhile, Faded Gloryville (the album) has a great southern soul vibe – particularly in evidence tonight on Someday Soon – while Faded Gloryville (the song itself) has a folkish country vibe, which the Guardian has rather excitedly compared to Tom Waits.

Ortgea has a relaxed demeanour on stage – stories about the songs are told, and wry observations made too; and she also spotted and namechecked “…the sexiest man in the room…” much to the pleasure of the rather hirsute stout fella wearing a Lindi Ortega tee-shirt.

Her voice was immaculate throughout the set, making easy work of the tunes – singing with power and emotion but without any of the fake emoting beloved of so many wannabe divas on the telly talent shows. She plays a mean guitar too, picking out leads and lending plenty of acoustic texture to the songs.

Resplendent in her trademark red boots and little black dress, she’s relaxed when not singing or playing – lost in the music and indulging in much shimmying when the band take off in the instrumental breaks.

Her band are superb throughout, tight and clearly enjoying the material. Champagne James Robertson supplied stinging Telecaster – surf style via Nashville: Surf Riders in the Sky if you will. The rhythm section, Ryan Gavel on bass and Noah Hungate behind the drums, provided an understated backing, allowing Robertson and Ortega to shine, but not permitting themselves to be overshadowed.

They’re flexible players, switching around beats, tempo and feel to suit the tune, and outstanding on a magnificent cover of To Love Somebody, enlivened by a raucous singalong from the capacity crowd.

A cracking cover of Bring it on Home opened the encore and then the set list was ignored in response to an audience request for Lived and Died Alone, a song that Ortega assured the crowd has absolutely nothing to do with necrophilia and therefore instantly ensured the crowd could think only about necrophilia for the duration of the (rather lovely) tune.

The set closed with a revamp of Ring of Fire played at a groovy tempo with more superb guitar work and a sultry vocal culminating in a Hendrix referencing solo.

Ortega deserves to be playing bigger rooms and soon – she’s increasing her audience with every release and tour as evidenced by the fact that the merch had sold out all product bar four vinyl copies of the new album. Seek out her work. Get involved.

Photo by Donna Coombs