EVE SELIS/RANDI DRISCOLL
IAC 16TH July 2025
What an absolute treat at the International Arts Centre last night... First up was Randi Driscoll, a singer/songwriter accompanying her self brilliantly on keyboard. Randi writes great songs, i especially loved the set opener about the love given to and received from your child... beautiful lyric and sentiment.
Randi has a lovely voice and sings beautifully, and delivered a really terrific upbeat set. At times there were elements of twee and reminders of Melanie (who I have loved since 1971!!) but they contributed to a beautifully positive and compelling set... her point that music is best heard live, in the flesh is so right... there is nothing like live music to warm the heart...
After a break, Eve Selis took the stage with her band, Randi on keyboards and vocals and Sam Hunt on Acoustic guitar.
Eve started by explaining that this was not going to be a typical Eve show as she would be performing her latest album "Dark Sky Blue". She explained that she, along with everyone else had had shock and trauma in her life and told her own story... the songs contained on the album, and this set, were all drawn from those experiences and the writing and performance cathartic.
After this introduction Eve launched into the songs... and what a voice!!... she has a wonderful voice and sings superbly... clearly living every emotion and feeling through every moment.
The second song was "Monster" which she said was meant to be hard and scary... it was all of that but the sentiments expressed through it were a lesson to all... This song was delivered with a much harsher louder voice and absolutely stunning in its power...
As she then said... however dark and hopeless things feel at the time, we don't know the end of the story... and as the songs and show progress the darkness slowly lifts and we see more positivity as the healing progresses... near the end the philosophy learned through the counselling and recovery emerges clearly with "I Choose Love"... something we all need to take on board because without it things cannot improve...
The set ends with "Somebodys Brother" for her brother and for everyone... for the whole world... as the song ends Eve walked slowly off stage to leave Randi playing a most exquisite keyboard piece, accompanied by Sam’s delicate guitar, simply beautiful end to what was a magnificent performance.
I know that I, and all of us have all gone through traumas, maybe diifferent traumas to Eve, but the journey remains the same... and every word she said or sang.. every emotion, went straight to my heart and spirit. Eve said that if she had reached one person she had done her job... she reached me totally...
After a short pause, Eve came back on stage and played a couple of encores, more typical Eve material... saying the second would merge into something we all knew by heart... and we could all sing together... when it came, the song was Crazy John's "Imagine"... but with slight difference.. Johns record is soft, wistful and as a dream... Eve sings it as an exaltation... a positive way forward... and it was simply beautiful.
A word for the band... Sam’s guitar work was delicate, empathetic and superb all through and Randi's keyboard work absolutely stunning...
The whole show was absolutely wonderful... it prompted every emotion in me... at times laughter and tears simultaneously...
And something i dont usually refer to... talking to Eve after the show... what a wonderful human being!!
keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues... and please, choose love...
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