City gig of mixed emotions
Joan Armatrading seems to have gone through quite a transformation in recent years, from acoustic balladeer to electric guitar-wielding blues rocker.
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Joan Armatrading seems to have gone through quite a transformation in recent years, from acoustic balladeer to electric guitar-weilding blues rocker.
It was that side that was to the fore as she took to the stage at Symphony Hall in her adopted home city, launching into one of her earlier hits, Show Some Emotion from 1977.
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But many in the audience who hadn't yet heard her most recent album, This Charming Life, and its predecessor, Into The Blues, may have been somewhat nonplussed as she built a set largely around those two releases.
Although the newer songs like Best Dress On and Heading Back to New York City were well received, it was an hour into the show before she strapped on her 12-string acoustic for the gorgeous Love and Affection, finally getting members of the audience up on to their feet in applause.
Then it was back to the new material, showcasing songs of love and loss wrapped up in sugar-coated melodies, Armatrading's distinctive voice still as powerful as ever as the singer wrestled solos and sounds out of her guitars and effects pedals.
She ended the main part of the show with the familiar triple-whammy of (I Love It When You) Call Me Names, Me Myself I and a beautiful rendition of Willow that had the Symphony Hall audience gently taking over from the singer in the chorus.
Armatrading looked a combination of embarrassed and delighted as she was then presented with a Birmingham Walk Of Stars award from the city's Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Randal Brew. The award will soon be embedded in its new home in Broad Street.
After hearing fulsome praise about her music and achievements from Councillor Brew, Armatrading joked: "I'd like to meet this Joan Armatrading" before turning to the audience and adding: "When you walk on this star, tread carefully."
She also confided that she loved playing in Birmingham because "it's the only time I get to see my family" before finishing off with a spirited version on Drop The Pilot that had fans dancing in the aisles.
