Tennessee Time at the Thekla and a taste of the deep south
as superstar-in-waiting Valerie June delights with her self-proclaimed
‘moonshine roots music.’
It’s been a big year for the Memphis bred multi-talented
singer with the release of her first album as a signed artist (the
superb ‘Pushin’ Against A Stone’), rave reviews from a support slot on Jake
Bugg’s UK tour and an attention-grabbing performance on Jools Holland’s
show. There was a real buzz and sense of
anticipation for tonight’s show as the venue sold out quickly with all the good
ship’s occupants feverishly sharing how they discovered her intoxicating blend
of blues, gospel, soul, folk and bluegrass. And it’s really hard not to love the self-effacing
charismatic American especially when you consider her struggle as a DIY artist self-releasing
albums personally sold from the boot of her car and busking at blues
festivals across the Mississippi Delta.
From her giddy entrance with leather brown handbag on her arm to the giggling fit of laughter at the close ridiculing herself for talking too much it’s clear we’re in the presence of a grounded seasoned performer and not the diva that her immensely powerful voice might suggest. Early track ‘The Hour’ impresses with it’s Motown soul and lilting double bass as Valerie puts that voice through a vigorous workout of hums, Tina Turner-esque grunts and razor-sharp but sweet melodies. Shedding her borrowed mustard cardie she tells us of how she’s been too busy being a ‘hard workin’ woman’ to go shopping before unleashing a pacy version of crowd-pleaser ‘Workin’ Woman Blues.’ Nimbly finger-picking through the opening bars before that shrieking Dolly Parton/June Carter-like twang “I ain’t fit to be no mother, I ain’t fit to be no wife yet, I been workin’ like a man, y’all, I been workin’ all my life, y’all.” There’s pockets of dancing in the crowd as its hard to resist the rapid funky beats, knockout vocals and brawling slide guitar.
Endearingly gabbing between songs she explains her influences (most notably Muddy Waters, Rosa Lee Hill, who she covers frenetically on Banjo later), the origin of aforementioned ‘moonshine roots music’ and her road to success. With church-reared gospel ability it looks like she barely opens her mouth to sing at times and she totters around the stage, all beaming smiles flicking her dreadlocked nest of snakes away from the frets. Her versatility proves the real winner tonight as she impressively turns her hand to a plethora of genres; ‘Can’t Be Told’ (Blues/Rock), ‘Somebody To Love’ (Folk), ‘Raindance’ (Bluegrass/Gospel) all with a timeless quality belying her years.
Returning to the stage for fan requested first encore
‘Twined and Twisted’ (which she says came to her in a dream) and an eerie but respectful
silence gives the perfect platform to mesmerize in a Springsteen (Nebraska era) desert campfire
tale. The schizophrenic ‘Shotgun’ is a
highlight as she sinisterly coos, ‘If I can’t have you nobody can’ before
plucking a butter knife from her hair to shaves the strings wildly. Good stuff.
She’s off home for her Grandma’s thanksgiving cooking, “I’m going now
y’all” as she drops off the stage, marching through the crowd to sell her own
merch. As a lengthy line forms, you
can’t help but feel we’ve seen something and someone with star quality tonight
–we all lament that she won’t be back to the Thekla for sure as the bigger
venues and a deserved limelight beckons.
Kindly published by Bristol24-7: http://www.bristol247.com/2013/11/27/review-valerie-june-54467/
Best track: Click on link below
Valerie June - 'Workin' Woman Blues
Setlist TBA
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