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Gig Review

Anna Calvi / Low Duo / Robert George Saull
The Harley, Sheffield

Article written by Matt H - Feb 25, 2011

Anna Calvi

Too often support bands drift past in a fug of uninspiration. So while both tonight’s supports are overreaching themselves in different ways and sound somewhat far from the finished article, their ambition is enough to make you glad they popped up and hope they will again. Robert George Saull in particular isn’t afraid to bite off more than he can chew, giving it a go at Scott Walkeresque one man pomp epics with Big Themes and French-language Brel covers. Low Duo keep themselves on a tighter rein, but six months in it’s a least clear that they’re mining some of the more interesting seams of indie inspiration.

By contrast Anna Calvi seems to have come into being fully formed (from a provincial point of view at least) with a coterie of impressive names as admirers and collaborators. As a result there‘s a real risk of overloading her with expectation. It’s understandable. Given the constant stream of witchy-child-voiced folkies and stage-schooled thunderers looking to waste our time, the temptation to hoist shoulder-high anyone with a bit of genuine spark is pretty strong. (Not that she lacks oomph in her pipes herself, I’d be tempted to pop a tenner on her doing the next Bond theme right now.) But she’s not (yet) a groundbreaking force or new PJ Harvey or whatever. Yes, she does a bit of that mad-eyed sultry blues thing, but overall her stuff is surprisingly poppy. Especially if your idea of pop is mid-eighties Bunnymen/Simple Minds epics. Hang on a mo, this is heading into bad review territory, which is daft. Because tonight Anna Calvi is really good. I’ve barely listened to her album twice and yet every song is familiar, the hallmark of top-notch songwriting. She’s got that “living the music” look when she performs, any theatrics coming from the force of the music alone. She’s a skilled interpreter too, turning in storming versions of both Presley (Surrender) and Piaf (Jezebel). All in all she thrills a packed Harley (clearly one of those gigs booked just before the artist hits a steep curve of popularity) and, while she might not be quite what some of the more hyperbolic coverage suggests, she’s well worthy of your time.

Links:
http://www.annacalvi.com/
http://www.dominorecordco.com/artists/anna-calvi/