Words and Photos: Smudge
Never been to the Drill Hall before but on speaking with a few that have it is steeped in history.
Built before the first world war it was used as an army drill hall before becoming a skating rink, a theatre, a night club and now it’s back to putting on gigs where the likes of Judas Priest played in the early 70’s.
You never quite know what sort of crowd you’re going to get on a rainy Wednesday night, but Elles Bailey pulled an almost capacity crowd, and the vast majority turned up early enough to catch the wonderful Demi Marriner. Usually fronting her band, she appeared with just her guitarist who played with a deft touch and added color and atmosphere to Demi’s often soaring vocals. She took the stage wearing the sparkliest (?) cowgirl boots I’ve ever seen and a Charlie 1 horse hat that really set the whole ensemble off. She gave us some wonderfully written americana like One Way Communication, the heartfelt Stay, Repeat Refrain and two stunning new songs in Think Of Me and another which I didn’t catch the title of but hopefully both will be released sometime soon.
Marriner was heard singing harmonies to Elles Bailey’s music backstage by Elles manager who encouraged Elles to let sing on a couple of numbers, well, a couple became a few and quickly became the whole set. So, minus the boots and shorts she came out as an integral part of Elles band.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Elles Bailey become the well-respected talent that she was always destined to be. There was no doubt she has a marvelous voice, but she has grown and is now a superb songwriter in her own right. She chooses the right people to collaborate with and what they create is just mind blowing. Opening with a joyous foursome of Enjoy The Ride, Is This Love, Leave The Light On and Help Somebody they gave a great example of what we were to expect. An evening full of rock n soul, rhythm and blues with a country/americana edge.
She sat at the ‘ivories’ for the power blues/soul of What If and Ballad Of A Broken Dream which has some sublime harmonies not just from Marriner but the whole band sang like angels. Apparently, she was reluctant to release this tune, whoever persuaded her needs a medal. Things got down-home and dirty on Hell And Highwater which sounded huge and guitarist Joe Wilkins played an absolute blinding lead break. Things got even dirtier on the currently unreleased sleaze-fest of Devil Claims His Prize before the funk and soul party of Love Yourself got everybody grooving especially the band who were directed to keep playing as Elles checked on the welfare of a fella who was taken ill – hopefully Richard is ok. We got another soulful banger with Truth Ain’t Gonna Save Us before a song that was co- written by the amazing Katie Pruitt (if you haven’t heard her stunning album Expectation’s I urge you to check it out because it’s fantastic). The song Let It Burn had those wonderful harmonies and Wilkins eased out a Gilmour-esque solo that was breathtaking. And to think they had never played it live before! Silhouette In A Sunset just brought people a whole lot closer together and I’m sure there will be more than a few Elles and Bailey’s knocking about in nine months’ time.
Elles sat behind the piano again this time for a tune from her debut album Wildfire – can you believe that was 2016! The Girl Who Owned The Blues is a fitting tribute to Janis Joplin and a was a another blues/soul epic. Surprise time came with another collaborator as Ainsley Lister hopped up with his trusty strat and they gave us a song they wrote – Hate That I Love You. A simple blues that Lister played the lines as Elles wrenched every soulful emotion out of her pores. Lister played for the song with nothing fancy. Simply stunning.
The muscle shoals’ groove of Riding Out Then Storm washed over us with its country/blues/soul mix then the fantastic 1972 brought a whole lotta funk and those of us that were around in ’72 Dad danced as Elles brought some serious sass! The Game gave us the lot – country melodies, rock n roll licks, a blues groove and gospel harmonies. Phew what a set but they weren’t finished as they came back on Elles gave the performance of the night on the sultry, smoky and intimate Turn Of The News before the rockin’ climax and the return of Ainsley Lister for Sunshine City.
I’d had a shitty day, and I needed Elles and her band to restore my faith in humanity and to re-fill my well of positivity. Elles Bailey and her shit hot band gave me back my happiness and I am truly grateful.
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