Mostly Autumn December 16, 2012 - W2, Den Bosch (NL)
Two years ago I saw Mostly Autumn perform for the first time with
Olivia 'Livvy' Sparnenn being
their official lead singer. This happened at the W2 concert hall in Den Bosch approximately six months after
Heather Findlay had left the band. After
this concert (see review) I wondered if I had missed Heather and my answer was:
yes and no! Since that concert in April 2010, Livvy recorded two albums with the band:
Go Well Diamond Heart (2010, see review) and the recently released CD The
Ghost Moon Orchestra (see review).
This could also be seen during the performance of Mostly Autumn on that Sunday afternoon in W2, the former Willem II cigar factory. Confidently Olivia made her entrance after the other musicians ended the instrumental opening piece Distant Train. She immediately got her first great moment with Unquiet Tears, the opening track from The Ghost Moon Orchestra. Just as on the album she sang this piece wholeheartedly. She just gave everything she had for which she was rewarded by the audience with a lot of cheering and applauding. In the course of this gig more of these magical moments appeared with most of the other tracks from the new album like Drops Of The Sun, Tonight, Wild Eyed Skies and King Of The Valley, but especially with Questioning Eyes, a cover from Breathing Space. This rather emotional song about the loss of Olivia's father and the events after his death even made people in the audience cry...
Even during the Christmas tunes they showed to be able to play this stuff very seriously. This time the rather funny Christmas show included I Believe In Father Christmas (Greg Lake, ELP), Fairytale Of New York (The Pogues) and Merry Xmas Everybody (Slade). Unfortunately they left out Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Judy Garland). However, during some other Dutch shows they didn't though, but then again they skipped the Slade cover. But even without this missing song, the audience could look back at an amazing show. Mostly Autumn are currently in great shape and the sound from the mixing desk was excellent. What else could I wish for as my finest Christmas present! Henri Strik (edited by Peter Willemsen) |
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