Post by fatfingerjohn on Oct 2, 2016 8:44:13 GMT
Hi all,
I know Kate is a favourite of many on the Forum so thought a review of her show last week would be good. The tour is labelled the 'Life in a Paper Boat' which is the title of her new CD, out this week. We have seen her three times before so are definitely fans.
Last week's show was a good mix of old and new songs. We enjoyed all the new ones from the CD, particularly 'Benjamin Bowmaneer' and 'Hunter Moon'. Her showpiece encore of the 'fun song' Big Brave Bill went down well with the audience but frankly was not my cup of tea.
Her backing was of course led as usual by hubby Damien O'Kane whose musicianship seems to get better every time (if you are prepared to forgive him playing the banjo 
). The other players were I think newcomers but slotted in well, one on squeezebox, one on double bass and 'moog' and one on guitar and mandolin. If I was being picky the lack of a fiddle player was a missing ingredient.
What about Kate herself? As usual, fun and bouncy but clearly suffering from a cold. It didn't stop her lovely voice from coming through, perhaps with even more of the breathy undertones than usual. What was a surprise, and a bit of a shame for me, was that she never played the guitar herself; I wonder if this was because she wasn't too well? She would probably be the first to admit that she is not Eric Clapton, but her gentle accompaniment on her lovely guitars, often in double drop D, to the soft songs is usually a treat and I missed it. Disappointing was the lack of inclusion of 'Underneath the Stars'; I was waiting for this as the encore and hence my disappointment probably at 'Big Brave Bill'.
Overall an excellent show and the above remarks should not give the impression that we didn't enjoy it; we certainly did and Kate managed to play through her set brilliantly despite whatever it was she was suffering with.
For her fans, get a ticket for the tour if you can; its worth it.
John
Jo whoever he is.
