MICHELE STODART/HANNAH WHITE
Musician Pub 1st November 2023
What a fabulous gig at The Musician Pub Wednesday night... Michele Stodart and Hannah White.
This gig was absolutely magnificent... i have run out of superlatives to describe it...
First off, the stage was looking wonderful... masses of fairy lights draped over the equipment and a large standard lamp...
First up was Hannah, (vocals and guitar) supported by Kieran (guitar) Emma (drums) and Michele (bass). The band delivered a set of original americana numbers, mainly from Hannah's forthcoming album... and you could easily believe the band hail from Nashville rather than from not exactly London...
Hannah has a glorious voice, at times echoing Nanci Griffiths, and sings beautifully and joyfully clearly loving every moment... she seems relaxed and could easily be singing in her front room... the joy she projects with every note, every word and every bit of stage banter is infectious and she had the audience in her hands from the first moments... The songs are outstanding, simply wonderful... and are delivered with such warmth and sincerity...The band provide fabulous support... Keiran plays guitar accompanying Hannahs voice and guitar perfectly, and when he takes a solo his playing is crisp, clear and outstanding...
Michele's bass playing is truly exceptional , playing rhythmically and in perfect sync with Hannah. feeling every note and nuance of the performance with graceful ease. Emma provides a beat and it is so refreshing to hear a drummer who actually plays the drums rather than assaulting them...
Hannah is a superb writer, performer and singer and the band give perfect support throughout... it is such a joy to see a band playing with such joy and spirit and impossible not to feel great listening to them
After a break, Michele stepped up to the fore, supported again by Emma on the drums with Andy on keyboards and David on bass and guitar while Michele sang and played acoustic guitar.
The first part of the set was a complete run through of her current album from start to finish. The music and songs are more intense and personal in nature, but beautifully written and delivered with warmth, intensity and huge quality using her voice and dynamics impeccably. Michele has a wonderful voice and sings her songs beautifully, the musicianship of the band again exemplary in perfect sympathy the Michele's lovely voice and guitar.
After the album Michele plays some more songs, more up-beat which she delivers with the same relaxed joyful grace and quality as she does the album material and as the set progresses the tempo and heat rise noticeably and Hannah and Kieran are invited back to the stage for the joyful finale.
There is so much common ground between the bands.. it is abundantly clear that they are all close and love doing what they do together... the love and joy on stage is clear for all to see and feel and it is felt equally in the audience
Both bands are musically superb and play with spirit, assurance and wonderful feeling... and both bands are led by a hugely talented singer, songwriter, musician, performer...
You just cannot see a weak link or anything not to love in the entire show... wonderful wonderful gig... and judging by the conversations I had after the gig, it seems everybody there agrees!
Keep music live... keep music real... support you local venue
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