Music / Colston Hall
Review: Parker Millsap, Laura Gibson and Karl Blau, The Lantern
On a rainy summer evening, the Lantern is the perfect spot to warm up. Sitting on the carpet and gazing at the intimate stage, I am looking forward to a special evening. First advertised as Laura Gibson and Karl Blau only, Colston Hall added Parker Millsap only a few weeks ago. It’s the latter who kickstarts the evening. The 24-year-old from Oklahoma captivates the small crowd from the very first note with his soulful voice. Vacillating between blues, country and rock and accompanied by a top-notch band, he starts with Hands Up, an energetic song with an emotive narrative. The Very Last Day slows down the pace to a bluesy-country tune about a nuclear bomb – a serious subject matter that contrasts the craftily played violin. When the set finishes with Some People, an upbeat new song, the room is a lot more crowded.
After a great start by the ‘surprise’ addition, it’s the turn of the shy and sweet Laura Gibson. The intimate venue fits her subtlety and sensitivity. The only accompaniment to her beautifully pure voice is her gentle finger-picking on the guitar or strokes on the piano keys. Her set starts with the smooth Where Have all your Good Words Gone and is then followed by The Cause. It continues with Damn Sure and Empire Builder, two songs from her last album of the same name about her leaving everything behind in Oregon to head to New York to study a Masters degree in storytelling (which undoubtedly contributes to her poetic narratives). She invites Jon Hyde from Karl Blau’s band to join her to play the pedal steel on Two Kids. Her set is very gloomy and melancholic (which she jokes about) but every soul in the audience holds its breath, mesmerised by her performance.
Karl Blau and his band end this magical evening. He plays the first couple of songs on his own, including a captivating performance of ‘Erica. Then joined by two musicians, he mainly performs songs from the latest album Introducing Karl Blau, a seven-year project collecting country covers. With subtlety and finesse (a perfect sequel to Gibson) they perform That’s How I Got to Memphis, Woman (Sensuous Woman) and Dreaming my Dreams. Karl’s deep voice blossoms. The peak moment is Fallin Rain, a song composed by Link Wray in 1971 but that “could have been written today” according to Karl. The electric guitar is like a voice screaming for help. The set ends with a very interesting cover of the Bee Gees’ To Love Somebody, the intermittent squeaking guitar riffs completing the sorrowness of the song.
is needed now More than ever
The only downside is the lack of audience for the first and last act, probably a consequence of people getting confused by the last-minute addition. However, the three artists have come together tonight to perform a great show starting with a boom and then progressing to a melancholic and mellow vibe. The intimacy of the venue only further highlighted the beauty of the music.
Read more: Review: Lambchop, The Fleece
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