Mary Chapin Carpenter
Life is about new experiences and this was one for me. I have attended the Theatre Royal many times, for stand-up, plays and musicals but never for a gig, nor have I seen either of tonight’s two artists before. With the Theatre Royal being somewhat plusher and, dare I say, more civilised than some of the venues I more usually frequent and both sets being excellent, I could get used to this.
From Australia via Cambridge and Stroud, Emily Barker opens proceedings in fine style. This is a short set – just six songs by my reckoning – of inspired country soul, with a touch of jazz. Short it may be but all of the songs are well received by a polite, quietly enthusiastic (if reserved) audience, with the ode to Sister Rosetta Tharpe that is Sister Goodbye garnering perhaps the strongest response.
Emily delivers more-than-decent guitar, piano and harmonica but her fine, effortlessly soaring voice is the star of the show. She is more than ably backed up by Lukas Drinkwater whose double bass and guitar work are just leftfield enough to make this truly interesting without getting too challenging.
Mary Chapin Carpenter has a career stretching back over thirty years and has sold well over eight million albums. Released a couple of months ago, Sometimes Just The Sky is her fifteenth studio LP, not counting four compilations. In the States, her albums have achieved multi-platinum status and yet this, the last night of her current UK tour, is the first time she has played Norwich. I am a casual fan at best but there are people here who have clearly been waiting a long time for this moment and they are not disappointed.
As well as vocals, Carpenter plays acoustic guitar. Her guitar tech must be one of the hardest working roadies around as Carpenter changes guitar between almost every song. As she explains, this isn’t just an affection but allows for different tunings to be used. Between songs, Carpenter is an entertaining, warm-hearted and dryly amusing raconteur.
Stage right, her long term collaborator and pianist Jon Carroll – looking like a fit and healthy cross between Kris Kristofferson and Barry Gibb – plays with the swagger of vintage Elton John with the occasional foray into Ian Stewart territory. Stage left, Johnny Duke delivers tasteful guitar and mandolin. Percussionist Nate Barnes anchors it all behind one of the most stripped back, minimalistic kits I have seen for a while.
None of the musicians do anything flash and beyond the occasional shimmy there is little that can be describes as showy but there doesn’t need to be. Everything that Carpenter and her band do is in the service of the songs. In a seventeen song set including the likes of The Moon and St. Christopher, This Shirt, Lucinda Williams’ Passionate Kisses and Sometimes Just the Sky that is all that is needed. For the final song of the set, the band leaves the stage. Carpenter, alone with her guitar, plays I Have a Need for Solitude and it is just about the perfect way for this set to finish.
As I said earlier, I am, at best, a casual fan of Mary Chapin Carpenter. After tonight’s cracker of a set, I will certainly be making a concerted effort to dig out more of her stuff. As good as Carpenter has been though, it is Emily Barker that has truly won me over.
