Sometimes a show ends and you have to scream, "God dayum!" Imelda May threw the eff down at Pianos tonight. Lights out. Socks have been recovered because they were rocked off. When I first wrote about her last year, I noticed that she had a toughness. Tonight, I saw that, but in the toughness is a smooth, soulful style as well.
The setlist:
- Feel Me
- Love Tattoo
- Walking After Midnight
- Don't Do Me Wrong
- Big Bad Handsome Man
- Oh Darling (Beatles cover)
- Wild Above My Lovin
- Proud & Humble
- Smokers Song
- Smotherin Song
- Watcha Going To Do
- Psycho
- Mayhem
- Johnny Got a Boom Boom
- Encore: Tainted Love
Imelda is all about the rockabilly, in the same vein as the Rev. Horton Heat. That's her medium point. She can veer a little bit to the right on the rockabilly meter and delve into a more country, Johnny Cash style with a slight twang and storytelling style. Then you can move her to other side of the meter where she explores funk and soul styles. There was a point where she went all gospel-like and that brought the room to a silence where everyone was tuned into her feelings. Mainly, she's all high-energy with people clapping and screaming dancing in their trendy boots.
Usually, with these industry showcases you get a lot suits, stiffs and idiot bloggers like me, but this was a hootin and howling crowd. It made me realize that she's going to fall into my category of "Acts That If You Don't Like, Don't Come To My Blog". I'm watching her perform and she's belting out fierce tune after fierce tune, and I'm saying to myself, "How can you not be knocked out by her?" Her backing band, including her hubby on guitar, are just spot on. The drummer went into a old fashion drummer solo, and you can actually see the wood splints fly around him. With that band, it makes Imelda seem that more vibrant. She's a dancing and prancing queen up there.
Like many of her Irish brethren, she's got a quick wit. She was telling stories behind her song and she mentioned that her mum asked that Imelda write a song about "the man above." I said aloud, "Elvis?" She replied, "No, not Elvis. He's still alive." Imelda May 1, Chris of MusicSnobbery.com 0.
Love Tattoo is out in the U.S. I suggest you pick it up, with caveat that her new material is rock harder and faster. Yes, it is possible to build on awesomeness. She'll play a few more dates in NYC before year's end, so I will let you know when that is.
Was there too. Simply an amazing show. The wee lass knows how to kick ass. Looking forward to November.
Posted by: Keith | September 16, 2009 at 07:35 AM
Brilliant set. Thumbs up!
Posted by: SPF | September 16, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Great photos! I linked to your post http://bit.ly/154pWd in my review on SWIK Music. Fabulous show. Was that really the set list? Tainted Love? Don't remember them covering that. I thought she ended with Rollin & Tumblin. But I'm old, so what do I know?
Posted by: DJKyrawoman | September 17, 2009 at 12:29 AM