Live review: Elbow Jane @ The Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
Saturday 10th September 2011
You would expect to have a good night out when a talented and exciting acoustic folk band with local roots, as Elbow Jane undoubtedly are, and the folk legend Andy Irvine, needing no introduction as their support act, step onto to stage at the Floral Pavilion Wirral’s flagship leisure venue.
The Floral and the packed and expectant audience in the auditorium, welcomed home Elbow Jane as the headline act. This was the night when, in contrast to their previous two gigs at the ‘old’ Floral venue as support act, they would give a performance that would convince their fans that they are a band that have now established themselves firmly on the UK Folk and Acoustic Scene. Elbow Jane, in their line-up of ‘three front men and two quiet men at the back’, gained a large number of new fans who were there to support the gig in aid of the Help the Heroes charity.
Rich Woods, Kev Byrne and Joe Topping, the three front men, are each accomplished and talented performers in their own right but the combination of their voices and instrumental talents presents a syngeneic sound that is strong in harmony and engulfs the audience to create an atmosphere that is both powerful and electric. Add Steve Finnegan on drums and Chris Chesters on bass guitar and everything comes together to produce an acoustic sound that will see Elbow Jane established as a headline act at folk and acoustic events and venues for many years to come.
The band say that the two quiet lads at the back bring it all together and their performance over two sets illustrated just how together they now are. Although the majority of the band still have full time day jobs, their current tour and the launch of their new CD ‘The Boldest Blood’ will showcase to all just how far they have come in the last six years as both recording and live artists.
Andy Irvine, a real treat for lovers of Irish music, shared the stage as support. He performed a selection of songs from his repertoire from the 60s to date as an icon for traditional music and musicians and his time playing in Sweeney’s Men, Planxty and with Donal Lunny. You would need to travel far and wide to normally experience a performance of such depth that Andy gave as one of the Great Irish Singers and a musician of dextrous touch, and it was a privilege and a great pleasure to get the opportunity to see him on the Wirral.
The evening was a celebration of Elbow Jane’s return to their roots, having spent time on tour at folk festivals and venues around the UK to promote their new CD ‘The Boldest Blood’. The concert was also an opportunity to support the armed forces charity Help For Heroes. It was a success on all counts. They performed a number of songs from the new CD (out now on Fellside Records) and although the title song, written by Joe, linked to conflict and heroics was included early in their first half they treated us to a full range of covers and their original material both new and old over two scintillating sets.
Opening with a Tim O’Brien song, Rich, Kev and Joe were introduced to stage singing in full harmony. Chris and Steve joined them to make Elbow Jane complete as they played the title song of the CD ‘The Boldest Blood’, setting the scene for a very exhilarating night that was to follow. Joe’s performance of this song and ‘Throw Me To The Wind’ and ‘Lord Willing’ provided an emotional change of tempo supported by full harmony and instrumental backing from the band. The ‘Pilgrims Lullaby’ saw Rich singing and playing with just vocal support from Joe and Kev.
‘Ode To Icarus’, ‘Gone Are The Days’ and ‘On These Shores’, all from the new CD and covers of Paul Simon, James Taylor and the ‘B’ group were all performed with the full sound and tight harmonies we have come to enjoy and expect from this talented band. ‘Steamroller’, another James Taylor classic, was the closing song of the night when they signed off with thanks. Musical interludes emphasised the talents of Rich, Joe, Kev, Chris and Steve – Elbow Jane the band – before they returned to rapturous applause for an encore.
Kev thanked the audience as Help the Heroes would benefit from the raffle that raised over £450 and that the contribution from the sales of CDs on the night had yet to be added. Andy Irvine fittingly joined the band on stage for this encore, playing harmonica, as they played ‘When I’m Dead And Gone’ with much foot tapping, clapping and audience participation.
The audience were reluctant to let them leave the stage and Elbow Jane should be satisfied that their return home on their tour had been a great success and that their performance warranted their billing as headline act at The Floral Pavilion.
Seeing Elbow Jane live had been an experience and the atmosphere that they create was something I and many in the audience wished we could take home with us. I did so by buying the New CD ‘The Boldest Blood’ to remind myself of their pulsating and outstanding performance. I’ll certainly be making sure I don’t miss any opportunity to catch them live as they continue to confirm their stature as an established band on the UK folk and acoustic scene.
© 2011 Paul Robertson
Liverpool Acoustic – liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
The Boldest Blood is available at
- Amazon – physical CD & mp3 digital download
- iTunes
- and via Fellside Records
For Elbow Jane information including discography and gig list visit www.elbowjane.com