Dear all,
I notice that Allison Crowe, who you will have seen mention of on this forum many times in the past, will shortly be making her London debut at Bush Hall, on the 18th of November to be precise. Tickets are only £7 and I didn't have any problem buying one yesterday (phone number on the website or a link to ticketweb), so there's no excuse for anyone close to London not to go! I'll be there anyway and I wouldn't want to think I was the only Cohen fan going...
Tim
Allison Crowe in London
just an update on last night's concert, which was wonderful - didn't recognise any of you there but there were a few people applauding when she introduced a leonard cohen song! here's what I wrote for my blog, anyway, describing the three artists I saw:
1. Billie Woods
Limited guitar technique but great voice... From Canada but lives/lived in Brazil, influenced her music - one or two songs possibly in Portuguese? Introduced as photographer also - just noticed she took the cover photo for Tidings and Live at Wood Hall which were the two I bought at the show. Guitar work seemed to show she was either new to guitar playing, or not a natural guitarist (I worry that if took it up I'd be like this) - she strummed OK but had to concentrate on her other hand and fingering on the neck, and didn't move fluidly from chord to chord. Only a slight distraction from her performance though, which I preferred to that of -
2. Shelly Poole
Singer, backed by two guitars, bass & drums. Slight country influence to her style (singing as well as dress!). Recently had single played on radio 2, not surprising as she has a mainstream radio-friendly style. Good, but didn't move me and I wasn't too upset when space got short in the hall and I opted to stand outside in the foyer rather than get too close to, or in the way of, other audience members. Played 1 Joni M cover, my highlight of her set. Dueted on a couple of songs with male singer/guitarist - didn't catch his name. Obviously big fan base (just looked up the Bush Hall entry for her and she apparently was in Alisha's Attic who I vaguely remember - couldn't name a song of theirs though - so presumably these were Alisha's Attic fans) as much more crowded for her set than for -
3. Allison Crowe
Hadn't realised she'd be playing solo, but very happy that she was. Noticed dominant bass in her piano playing and wondered if it indicated she was left-handed, confirmed when she signed CDs afterwards. Her piano work really is good, to my ears at least, mostly 'just' accompaniment to her singing but allowed to soar on a few occasions. Singing though is even better, like all the great singers capable of a wide variety of styles and tone. Mostly her own material but 4 great covers too:
* 'in my life'(The Beatles) - Not I think my favourite Beatles song, but the one I've been recently listening to most, between Johnny Cash's cover of it on American IV and Ben Lee (who he?) on the 'this bird has flown' Rubber Soul tribute album I previously mentioned, so if i was going to choose a Beatles song I wanted to hear, it would be that one;
* 'case of you'(Joni Mitchell) - Now this definitely is my favourite Joni song, having heard it first when Diana Krall covered it (first heard it online, later it was my highlight of seeing her at the Royal Festival Hall) and then finding it on Joni's 'Blue' album, so again if I was to choose a Joni song to hear, it woud be this one;
* 'hallelujah' (Leonard Cohen) - Anyone reading this already knows I'm a huge Cohen fan, and this is one of my top 3 or so Cohen songs so definitely another one I'd choose to hear - even if it's almost a cliche these days for a singer to cover it (thinking of Kathryn Williams who I've heard sing it both times I've seen her, or Rufus Wainwright, or ...) - but still such a great song to hear and so beautifully sung. Would have been worth the ticket price to hear this alone!;
* 'I never loved a man the way I love you'(Aretha Franklin') - never got into Aretha's work so didn't know this song. Allison did it justice though, and sang it very soulfully, but then I think know I could listen to her sing anything...
Focussed on those songs rather than her own material as, for the first three mentioned anyway, I'm far more familiar with them than Allison's own material, which I was hearing for the first time. Her own songwriting though is just as good as her singing or piano-work, 'sea of a million faces' for instance is one that stood out and I'm listening to again this evening.
Not only is she a great artist, but she's a friendly one too, as I found out when buying and getting my CDs and DVD signed after the show. Just been accused on #cohenfans of having a crush on her! Don't think that's true but I do think she's cute...
1. Billie Woods
Limited guitar technique but great voice... From Canada but lives/lived in Brazil, influenced her music - one or two songs possibly in Portuguese? Introduced as photographer also - just noticed she took the cover photo for Tidings and Live at Wood Hall which were the two I bought at the show. Guitar work seemed to show she was either new to guitar playing, or not a natural guitarist (I worry that if took it up I'd be like this) - she strummed OK but had to concentrate on her other hand and fingering on the neck, and didn't move fluidly from chord to chord. Only a slight distraction from her performance though, which I preferred to that of -
2. Shelly Poole
Singer, backed by two guitars, bass & drums. Slight country influence to her style (singing as well as dress!). Recently had single played on radio 2, not surprising as she has a mainstream radio-friendly style. Good, but didn't move me and I wasn't too upset when space got short in the hall and I opted to stand outside in the foyer rather than get too close to, or in the way of, other audience members. Played 1 Joni M cover, my highlight of her set. Dueted on a couple of songs with male singer/guitarist - didn't catch his name. Obviously big fan base (just looked up the Bush Hall entry for her and she apparently was in Alisha's Attic who I vaguely remember - couldn't name a song of theirs though - so presumably these were Alisha's Attic fans) as much more crowded for her set than for -
3. Allison Crowe
Hadn't realised she'd be playing solo, but very happy that she was. Noticed dominant bass in her piano playing and wondered if it indicated she was left-handed, confirmed when she signed CDs afterwards. Her piano work really is good, to my ears at least, mostly 'just' accompaniment to her singing but allowed to soar on a few occasions. Singing though is even better, like all the great singers capable of a wide variety of styles and tone. Mostly her own material but 4 great covers too:
* 'in my life'(The Beatles) - Not I think my favourite Beatles song, but the one I've been recently listening to most, between Johnny Cash's cover of it on American IV and Ben Lee (who he?) on the 'this bird has flown' Rubber Soul tribute album I previously mentioned, so if i was going to choose a Beatles song I wanted to hear, it would be that one;
* 'case of you'(Joni Mitchell) - Now this definitely is my favourite Joni song, having heard it first when Diana Krall covered it (first heard it online, later it was my highlight of seeing her at the Royal Festival Hall) and then finding it on Joni's 'Blue' album, so again if I was to choose a Joni song to hear, it woud be this one;
* 'hallelujah' (Leonard Cohen) - Anyone reading this already knows I'm a huge Cohen fan, and this is one of my top 3 or so Cohen songs so definitely another one I'd choose to hear - even if it's almost a cliche these days for a singer to cover it (thinking of Kathryn Williams who I've heard sing it both times I've seen her, or Rufus Wainwright, or ...) - but still such a great song to hear and so beautifully sung. Would have been worth the ticket price to hear this alone!;
* 'I never loved a man the way I love you'(Aretha Franklin') - never got into Aretha's work so didn't know this song. Allison did it justice though, and sang it very soulfully, but then I think know I could listen to her sing anything...
Focussed on those songs rather than her own material as, for the first three mentioned anyway, I'm far more familiar with them than Allison's own material, which I was hearing for the first time. Her own songwriting though is just as good as her singing or piano-work, 'sea of a million faces' for instance is one that stood out and I'm listening to again this evening.
Not only is she a great artist, but she's a friendly one too, as I found out when buying and getting my CDs and DVD signed after the show. Just been accused on #cohenfans of having a crush on her! Don't think that's true but I do think she's cute...
Needless to say, because I know you already know, but I will, anyway ~
I'm so happy you went to Allison, and happier still to see your reaction to her, her piano, her voice, her style[s], her covers, and her songwriting. I'm so glad, Tim. Great review
! I hope to see her in person, one day, too 
~ you just go right ahead and have a crush on her !
~ Lizzy
I'm so happy you went to Allison, and happier still to see your reaction to her, her piano, her voice, her style[s], her covers, and her songwriting. I'm so glad, Tim. Great review
! I hope to see her in person, one day, too ~ you just go right ahead and have a crush on her !~ Lizzy
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Adrian
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 9:23 am
- Location: Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada
- Contact:
slainte mhaith!
Hi Tim ~ thanks so much for attending Allison's concert at Bush Hall in London, and for posting your commentary
We were quite knackered after that performance, or I'd likely have been more alert and made a point of meeting! I was going on my instincts by that time... (And I've learned when planning the next tour - to schedule more than three hours between arrival at Gatwick airport, from Dublin, and the start of soundcheck! It looked easy on paper - only a small number of kilometres to cover, compared with our Canadian tour logistics. Car traffic in London, however, is something to behold!)
Allison and all of us had the most wonderful time at Bush Hall. I'm so glad you were a part of the night!
Hearing people singing along to the chorus of "Hallelujah" was beautiful.
The soundman/assistant manager at the venue said he'd never heard any performer, out of countless, as amazing in his life - when Alley covered "I Never Loved a Man".
All in all, a tremendous time - and, I'll be sure to let Allison know of your posts+
We return to Canada in a couple of days time, for a series of "Tidings" holiday concerts.
I'll read/write again when I can ( :
And, thanks, Lizzy, for alerting me to this chat!
peace, Adrian
We were quite knackered after that performance, or I'd likely have been more alert and made a point of meeting! I was going on my instincts by that time... (And I've learned when planning the next tour - to schedule more than three hours between arrival at Gatwick airport, from Dublin, and the start of soundcheck! It looked easy on paper - only a small number of kilometres to cover, compared with our Canadian tour logistics. Car traffic in London, however, is something to behold!)
Allison and all of us had the most wonderful time at Bush Hall. I'm so glad you were a part of the night!
Hearing people singing along to the chorus of "Hallelujah" was beautiful.
The soundman/assistant manager at the venue said he'd never heard any performer, out of countless, as amazing in his life - when Alley covered "I Never Loved a Man".
All in all, a tremendous time - and, I'll be sure to let Allison know of your posts+
We return to Canada in a couple of days time, for a series of "Tidings" holiday concerts.
I'll read/write again when I can ( :
And, thanks, Lizzy, for alerting me to this chat!
peace, Adrian
"Why music?" "Why breathing?"
Hi Adrian ~ Yes, you're welcome . I love what Tim had to say about Allison . The majority of our London driving was in the middle of the night and early AM, thanks to John and Margaret's good thinking. However, I did later see what people refer to on it. Just didn't have to be in it myself. Love that public transport .
I'll be checking Allison's site to read all the other reviews of this tour. You followed your heart with this decision to manage Allison, and you're winning . That's so great to see .
One day, some day, I'll see her, too. It's easy to believe that venue manager's comment on Allison's rendering of that wonderful song
.
Love,
Lizzy
. I love what Tim had to say about Allison . The majority of our London driving was in the middle of the night and early AM, thanks to John and Margaret's good thinking. However, I did later see what people refer to on it. Just didn't have to be in it myself. Love that public transport .I'll be checking Allison's site to read all the other reviews of this tour. You followed your heart with this decision to manage Allison, and you're winning
. That's so great to see .One day, some day, I'll see her, too. It's easy to believe that venue manager's comment on Allison's rendering of that wonderful song
.Love,
Lizzy
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Adrian
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 9:23 am
- Location: Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada
- Contact:
rock and roll circus returns home
yes, indeed - next time, we'll take public transit in London; until this tour, Toronto, Canada was the most congested driving city I'd experienced... still, one great thing about traffic crawling through London, is it gives one a chance to sight-see
we are now home, with a week left in Allison's concert year...
after Europe, Alley did shows in Ontario and Ohio - and she remained in peak form; a long-time public broadcaster, Ross Hocker (of Toledo NPR affiliate WGTE), attended the last show of this tour swing and commented:
"I saw Allison at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio on
December 6th, 2005. It was the most honest, heartfelt, and directly
intimate concert in my entire life. I have been to hundreds of concerts
of all sorts of music, but nothing like Allison Crowe! She is
fantastico! and so very sweet and marvelous to behold... Allison has a
special gift that is so very rare in musicians today. She is true to her
mind, heart and spirit. She also has a most wonderful humor which
envelops her audience. Thank you for being on this earth, dear Allison
Crowe."
and, that is precisely what this is all about ( :
peace, Ad
we are now home, with a week left in Allison's concert year...
after Europe, Alley did shows in Ontario and Ohio - and she remained in peak form; a long-time public broadcaster, Ross Hocker (of Toledo NPR affiliate WGTE), attended the last show of this tour swing and commented:
"I saw Allison at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio on
December 6th, 2005. It was the most honest, heartfelt, and directly
intimate concert in my entire life. I have been to hundreds of concerts
of all sorts of music, but nothing like Allison Crowe! She is
fantastico! and so very sweet and marvelous to behold... Allison has a
special gift that is so very rare in musicians today. She is true to her
mind, heart and spirit. She also has a most wonderful humor which
envelops her audience. Thank you for being on this earth, dear Allison
Crowe."
and, that is precisely what this is all about ( :
peace, Ad
"Why music?" "Why breathing?"
-
Adrian
- Posts: 244
- Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 9:23 am
- Location: Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada
- Contact:
a chance to see as well as hear... Hallelujah ( :
we hope to see you again, before too long, Tim - and, Lizzy, some day, in Florida, or Greece, or... may we meet, too!
in the meantime, a friend here at home has kindly created a movie file (in two different speeds) that can help folks anywhere in the world see Allison's single, first, take performance of Hallelujah:
http://www.allisoncrowe.com/Hallelujahvideos.html
see you at the movies, Ad
in the meantime, a friend here at home has kindly created a movie file (in two different speeds) that can help folks anywhere in the world see Allison's single, first, take performance of Hallelujah:
http://www.allisoncrowe.com/Hallelujahvideos.html
see you at the movies, Ad
Last edited by Adrian on Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Why music?" "Why breathing?"
