By Virginia Winder
It’s a dark Friday night with the promise of rain.
All week I’ve been had moments of dipping into gloom. It’s
mid-winter and while the sunshine has made a difference this week, nothing have
been able to shake the hints of a downward slide.
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| Juliet McLean and friends play in the basement of Pianoworks |
Then I wander down a city back alley and into the basement
of Pianoworks.
And I am submerged in live music.
I sit at the back and count all the people in the audience
who are friends, people dear to my heart.
They are all here to listen to Juliet McLean and friends
play beautiful music.
There’s Hamish Cameron on electric bass and double bass, Matt
Herrett on electric and slide guitars, Rob Ju on drums and a guest, named Wellington,
on violin.
Juliet sits behind her keyboard singing uplifting and moving
songs, many from her EP, The Dance. In this one set, there’s a waltz, a tango,
the blues, jazz and songs that soothe my soul.
And that’s exactly what does happen – the blues blow the
blues away.
Afterwards I got enough hugs to last me a month, although I’m
always keen for more.
What the music did was allow me to be transported, to
disappear into a world of words and swirling sound. I was absolutely there, in
that moment, and part of an intently listening audience.
This was a pop-up gig and they are so good. They are
intimate, welcoming and you can be close to the musicians, to the action and
sound.
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| Renny M at Dee and Dave Pope's house |
About a month weeks ago, I went to another great pop-up gig
at my friend Dee and Dave Pope’s home. That was starring Renny M. Her music also
touched me because of her words of raw honesty and a voice that reminds me a
little of Tracy Chapman.
If you’re in Taranaki, there’s a lot of gigs going on. There
are concerts at Studio 64 in Inglewood, Singer Songwriters New Plymouth at
Little Theatre, shows at the 4th Wall Theatre and more pop-up performances
on the horizon. If you get the chance, say yes and go.
You’ll be among friends, even if you haven’t met them yet.
Today, I’m still feeling nourished by last night’s outing.
By singer-songwriters who put themselves out there for little return except to
entertain us. By the good will of an audience attentive to every word, every
nuance.
But mostly I feel full up with live music and its magical
powers of healing.
