So when Mr C said he had a place for me to go see Soulsavers with my darling Mr Lanegan on vocals, I was over that proverbial moon. The gig was taking place at Highbury Garage, now known as the Relentless Garage. What? Relentless? Why?
Going to gigs on my own has never really bothered me - aah, the life of the single girl...obviously, I'd rather have Mr Ward in tow nowadays, but there's the small matter of several seas and oceans between us. So, I found myself standing alone watching Tenebrous Liar, the support act. Main singer/guitarist is Steve Gullick, who is also an amazing rock photographer. I've seen his work exhibited at Rough Trade East and in many mags over the years. Much as I admire anyone who stands up in front of a load of folk and gives it their all, and I'm not normally one to ever suggest that someone shouldn't give up their day job, but...well, he is an amazing photographer.
I bump into a couple of folk I know - funnily enough, one is a photographer I happen to be working with at the moment. He and his truly stunning girlfriend are there purely to see Mr L. We'd already discovered our mutual admiration of him during a chat about music in the recent past. I promise the Stunner my after-show party wristband at the end of the gig and she is thrilled.
The lights dim and the intro to 'Paper Money' begins...I've already wondered how they'll manage a few of these tunes without their gospel singers (Mr C had already told me there'd be no backing singers) but they seem to fill in with a wall of guitars which works pretty well. Mark Lanegan is a powerhouse. His voice never disappoints, and his presence on stage holds the attention of the entire audience, despite doing absolutely nothing but singing into his mic and not moving an inch. Towards the end, he leaves the stage for one song, and although it's well received, when he returns to the stage, it's all too clear that the crowd is here for him. Soulsavers have written some great material, but I reckon it's his delivery that makes it into something musically moving and spiritual.
My sweet Lord...I bloody love him.
