Music / country music
Review: Kelly Willis, Redgrave Theatre
You can count on one hand the times when Kelly Willis toured as a solo artist in the UK (the other times, she was touring with music and life partner Bruce Robison), a small number for a career of thirty years. The audience is reminded of the uniqueness of this show by a beautifully worded introduction. It is said that Bob Harris from BBC Radio 2 even described her as “the voice of Austin Texas” in one of his shows… Willis is back with a new album called Back Being Blue, which comes 11 years after her previous release. In the meantime, she had “loads of kids”, made music and toured with husband Bruce. Tonight she is the one in the spotlight though as she performs her own music or songs written by songwriter friends, and shares witty anecdotes.
Willis kicks off the set with the song that gave name to the album, Back Being Blue. It sounds like a powerful statement of resurrection and she’s like a Texan phoenix reborn from desert sand. By bringing a bit of R&B to her usual country music, Willis comes back to something more simple, basic and pure. The band impresses straight away and the chemistry is instant. It is demonstrated when the bassist encounters a technical hitch during the second number, If I left You. As it takes longer than expected to fix the issue in between the songs, Willis decides to play a different one while the sound engineer rushes to the stage to assist. Even if she diverts from the set list, the band adapts to her perfectly. As the sound engineer vacates the stage, the bassist joins the rest of the band at the perfect time, as if it was planned all along.
The setting of the venue makes it an intimate affair. Jokes and stories are shared in between songs and Willis is a lovely performer who will sing literally to the audience and not just in front of them, as she looks at them deeply in the eyes and returns smiles. She puts passion into her voice and every word is heavy with meaning. What the Heart Doesn’t Know, from her new album, is the highlight of the evening. Modern World, a cheerful tune with distressing lyrics, is a great reminder of what country is about. Also showcased from the new LP are We’ll do it for Love Next Time and Only You .
is needed now More than ever
Blue might be her colour but it is definitely not a reflection of tonight’s mood. Willis looks proud about her new album, as she should be, and her reunion with the centre of the stage seems not only fun but vital. The little Redgrave Theatre is lucky to witness such a great night of pure Austin sound.
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