Caroline Easther and the Cinnamon Girls - Gig Review: Caroline Easther and The Cinnamon Girls @ Fairfield House, Nelson - 3/05/2019
Caroline Easther seems like a completely lovely person which must have made last night’s experience at Fairfield House all the more difficult for her. Despite her best efforts to push through, with the support of her band The Cinnamon Girls (Alan Galloway, Hamish Graham and Murray Costello), her voice was just not playing the game.
Frustratingly for Easther this meant she had to adapt her set list on the fly and even stop the concert at one point to try and remedy the situation and repair her voice to get through the evening. Unfortunately, Easther’s concerns about her vocals made her whole approach to the set tentative and it was difficult for a newcomer to her original material to hear the songs clearly. This makes it a little difficult to review.
With that being said, there were definitely moments and particular numbers where the audience got a glimpse of what Easther would be like when on form and feeling confident.
Meg’s Story was written about Easther’s daughter, and it was lovely. Easter’s voice blends beautifully with Hamish Graham (also on drums). Footsteps was also in the groove. My favourite of the night was Find Me which is coincidentally Easther’s own favourite song from her new debut album Lucky. It’s a beautiful ballad with gorgeous backing vocals from Graham and bass player Murray Costello, and also features a lovely guitar intro from Alan Galloway.
No Ordinary Day and Wishful Thinking were both well written, melodic, pop tracks which demonstrated Easther’s ability as a songwriter to pen tracks with a hook and an engaging vibe.
The two support spots from her band members were enjoyable. Alan Galloway was joined by Tatania Sogrina on keyboard for a short set which included a lovely cover of Leonard Cohen's First We Take Manhattan. Galloway is the perfect person to deliver a Cohen cover with his laconic vocal delivery. Hamish Graham also sang three numbers, including Elvis Costello's Peace, Love and Understanding. Graham has a terrific soaring voice and it was lovely to hear him in full flight without using the microphone in the intimate Fairfield House setting.
No audience likes to see a performer uncomfortable and suffering through a gig and it was difficult to watch Easther struggling. There was a lot of compassion in the room directed her way, both from the audience and her fellow band members. Hopefully she can rest up and find her form for the rest of the gigs in her tour.
About Caroline Easther and the Cinnamon Girls
Now, she's venturing to the front of stage to front her band The Cinnamon Girls to showcase the songs from her new, debut solo album, Lucky.
Caroline is a huge fan of the indie-pop, alternative rock genre and lists bands such as The Go-Betweens, Sneaky Feelings, The Triffids and PJ Harvey as among her main influences. Her album, Lucky, would not have been made had David Long not been available to produce the sound Caroline wanted so much at his Owhiro Bay studio in Wellington. The album is essentially guitar driven but is varied in pace and in its sounds and lots of musicians popped in to add their flavour - Alan Norman, Dave Berry, Alan Galloway, Hamish Grahan, David Long and Murray Costello all contributed. The resultis a melodic, spacious, multi-layered collection of songs about the small and the not-so-small things Caroline has observed or loved or experienced...
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Caroline Easther and the Cinnamon Girls
Releases
Other Reviews By jacquiew
Belladonna - Single Review: Calling Out Your Name
25 Mar 2020 // by jacquiew
Wellington-based singer-songwriter Belladonna’s second single Calling Out Your Name is a refreshing and surprisingly upbeat piece of work, especially given its topic of clinging on to the past. Belladonna has a gift for writing a catchy hook, and she employs that talent to great effect here.
Read More...
Jen Turner - Single Review: Singing With Whales
12 Mar 2020 // by jacquiew
Singing with Whales by Jen Turner is a real gem of a single. Reflective and introspective in the particular way that break up songs tend to be, it’s also seriously catchy.
Read More...
Ria Hall - Album Review: Manawa Wera
27 Feb 2020 // by jacquiew
Ria Hall’s new collection of songs Manawa Wera is everything anyone could want from a new release. Hall is without doubt one of Aotearoa’s finest female vocalists and her material is thought-provoking and moving without ever being strident or preachy.
Read More...
Gig Review: Jackie Bristow @ The Boathouse, Nelson - 14/02/2020
15 Feb 2020 // by jacquiew
There was a lot to love about Jackie Bristow’s performance at The Boathouse in Nelson. The Boathouse has got to be one of the most spectacular settings in New Zealand for a music venue.
Read More...
Levi Lights On Project - Single Review: Like A Tie
14 Nov 2019 // by jacquiew
Levi Lights On Project have a knack for writing material that captures the zeitgeist and their latest single is no exception. Moody, gritty and evocative, Like a Tie is the perfect song for a television or film soundtrack with a Walter Mitty-esque theme of an office worker or corporate executive who dreams of throwing off the shackles of the 9 to 5 and living a more colourful existence.
Read More...
Albi & The Wolves - Gig Review: Albi and the Wolves @ Room Twenty5, Nelson
26 Oct 2019 // by jacquiew
Auckland-based trio Albi and the Wolves have made a real impression on the festival scene both here and overseas, especially since their Best Folk Artist of the Year Tui Award win in 2018. Just days ago, the group were named in the line-up for WOMAD 2020, a well-deserved nod for the very hardworking and talented Chris Dent, Micheal Young, and Pascal Roggen.
Read More...
Gig Review: Tami Neilson @ Nelson Arts Festival - 21/10/2019
22 Oct 2019 // by jacquiew
Tami Neilson is outrageously excellent. Her voice is full, powerful, nuanced and rich.
Read More...
Gig Review: Hollie Smith @ The Playhouse, Nelson - 22/09/2019
23 Aug 2019 // by jacquiew
Hollie Smith has a lovely voice and is a highly-regarded singer known to many for her work with TrinityRoots and Fly My Pretties, and for her vocals on the Don McGlashan penned hit Bathe In The River. Smith has also had significant success in her solo career to date.
Read More...
Most Viewed Artists
Latest Galleries
NZ Top 10 Singles
- APT.
ROSÉ And Bruno Mars - DIE WITH A SMILE
Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars - BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Billie Eilish - TASTE
Sabrina Carpenter - I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
Gracie Abrams - ESPRESSO
Sabrina Carpenter - SAILOR SONG
Gigi Perez - LOSE CONTROL
Teddy Swims - A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
Shaboozey - GOOD LUCK, BABE!
Chappell Roan
More Content on muzic.net.nz
Google Site Search
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report A Problem
