The Retro Bar in Manchester may not be full tonight but the crowd that are here are full of excitement for Laura Evans with many being at her last headline show at Gullivers. But before Laura took the stage we have the excellent Harriet Rose with a short set, just her and an acoustic guitar. She certainly captured my attention with her beautiful voice and great song writing. I will definitely be catching her again.
Evans entered the stage coming on with ‘Back to You’, and a different intro which was slow and moodier than before, finally kicking into the song we know and love. ‘Heart of Mine’ was next and Laura’s voice was sublime the control and emotion she has is a joy to behold. ‘Solo’ was up next and was written about the time Laura was single, which she explained she isn’t now, happily engaged. A great cover of the Chris Stapleton’s song ‘Arkansas’ with a lovely guitar intro from the talented Joe Coombs followed.
Laura explained the next song was written with her good friend Twinnie in her flat in London, after she was really heartbroken and the guy had been really shit to her. “So if anyone has made you feel like a fool then this one is for you.” It really sounded like she was singing it for the first time with so much built up emotion being let out. You could hear a pin drop in the venue as the audience hung on to the emotion and control. A special mention to the beautiful simple but stunning solo from Joe Coombs. Another cover was the short and snappy ‘Mercedes Benz’, originally by Janis Joplin. Next up ‘Fire with Fire’ which was a previous single.
A new song ‘Running on Low’ which as Laura explained was written on a cold January evening with her fiancé – what a great song it is, starting with some shimmering guitar from Joe before building with Daisy Pepper on bass and Jamie Dawson kicking in with their tight rhythm section. What a great song and really showing off the fact that Laura Evans can keep writing these great catchy songs. Another great song that was written in Nashville with Thomas Dove was the excellent ‘Let You Down Easy’. ‘Take me Back Home’ is about going back to Laura’s home town of Aberdare in South Wales.
Another new song was performed which was ‘Heartbreaker’ which is out as the latest single on the 10th November, inspired by the series Daisy Jones and the Six. This is a really kick ass song which has an immediate hook, that I couldn’t stop singing to. The quality of Laura’s song writing is clearly shown in this song. This song could be huge! I love it and what a grove. Laura slows it down with another new song ‘Back into my Life’, wow! This song is simply stunning, Laura’s voice is astounding with such delicate control that it sends shivers down your spine. I feel privileged to be hearing these new songs played live, another one that could be and should be massive. Another beautifully restrained solo from Joe Coombs. ‘Drag Me Back In’ gives the Manchester audience a chance to have a good old sing along to this rocking tune and boy did they sing. Finishing the set off with the title of her last album ‘State of Mind’, Laura really is a class act.
The Manchester crowd are not going to end there and Laura and her band duly oblige with the Eagles song ‘Heartache Tonight’. A funked up version of ‘I’m Alright’ concludes the set with Laura and what a great evening it’s been. A special mention must go to her excellent band; Daisy Pepper on bass, Jamie Dawson on drums, Joe Coombes on guitar.
Most of Laura’s shows on this tour were sold out but not tonight’s in Manchester, for those of us that were there we witness a fantastic show from an amazing artist who is clearly on course for bigger and better things. For those that weren’t and live any where near Manchester, where were you? You should be kicking yourself, you really did miss out on a very special night.
