Music / country music
Review: Lindi Ortega, The Fleece
With his high-waisted jeans, loose shirt, tousled hair and acoustic guitar, the first musician to tread on stage tonight looks like a young Dylan trying to get a break in Greenwich Village bars. In front of a crowd quivering to see the stunning Lindi Ortega, Josh Okeefe can be certain to please them with his Guthrie-influenced songs. His gravelly voice, his raw finger-picking and American folky style initially hide the fact that Okeefe is originally from Derby. His lyrics are poetic, funny and authentic and are surprising coming from a 23 years-old bloke. His wife Cora Carpenter joins him on stage to add her beautiful honky-tonky voice on his music, perfectly complementing his vocals. Their cover of Jackson reminds of a young Johnny Cash and June Carter and what a great way to end the set. Okeefe is definitely a unique gem in this day and age.
The release of Liberty earlier this year meant for Lindi Ortega to finally find a bit of light at the end of a dark tunnel, like a sort of closure. This concept-album follows a girl lost in darkness who becomes the hero of her own tale when she finds salvation at the end of the album. Lindi is a deep, powerful singer-songwriter who has battled through her own struggles (body dysmorphic disorder is one of them and she has written a beautifully honest text on the subject on Lenny’s Letter website) and even if the issues are still lingering somewhere, she appears blooming on stage. Hidden behind a big cowboy hat, bright red lips and long curly black hair, Ortega mesmerises the crowd with her gothic cowgirl look. This is without hearing her incredible unique vibrato which makes her voice so distinctive.
Her set incorporates some previously released songs but her new compositions are pushed to the fore. The eponymous Liberty reflects the style of the whole album, with hints of Spaghetti Western and echoes of Ennio Morricone. Lindi also shares her love for Tarantino movies and she then performs a sharp cover of Bang Bang. The saddest songs are eclipsed by “happier” ballads such as Lovers in Love (which still makes a few people tear up) written after tying the knot at the end of last year. You Ain’t Fooling Me is a fun number against hypocritical bitches, which ends in a rock’n’roll Led-Zep finale. Backed up by a unbelievably talented guitarist (Champagne James Robertson), who showcases his chameleon skills, and an energetic drummer, she concludes the evening with a cover of Gracias a La Vida (also sung by Joan Baez) A celebration of life which gives hope to the character in Liberty, herself and anyone in the audience who can relate. She thanks the crowd for showing up tonight and her genuine tone proves just how much it means to her. She then makes her way to the merch stands to sign t-shirts and vinyls and chat with her fans, radiating modesty and integrity. What is not to love about her?
is needed now More than ever
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