Review by Darren McIntyre
Images by Scott Anderson
Hailing from Wednesbury, West Midlands, UK, Joanne Shaw Taylor is a multifaceted artist renowned for her infectious blend of Americana and blues, a legacy she’s cultivated since 2002. Discovered by Dave Stewart (of Eurythmics fame) at a mere 16 years old, Joanne has earned accolades such as Best Female Vocalist at the British Blues Awards in 2010 and 2011, along with Songwriter of the Year. With a discography spanning over a decade, including standout albums like “White Sugar” (2009), “The Dirty Truth” (2014), and “Sweet Little Lies” (2023), Joanne has consistently delivered soulful, blues-infused music to her audience.
Tonight, the anticipation is palpable as Joanne graces the stage at QMU in Glasgow, promising a night of blues and Americana that’s sure to captivate. As the house PA fades, Joanne and her band stride onto the stage, greeted by thunderous applause, and dive into their setlist.
Kicking off with “In The Mood,” Joanne sets the tone with a sludgy riff, backed by killer keys and a pulsating bassline, instantly igniting the crowd’s enthusiasm. Transitioning seamlessly into “Keep On Loving Me,” the band delivers silky-smooth guitar melodies and infectious blues keys, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening.
Throughout the performance, Joanne’s gravelly vocals command attention, perfectly complemented by the band’s tight instrumentation. Tracks like “All Of My Love” and “Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me” showcase Joanne’s prowess as both a vocalist and guitarist, while newer offerings like “Wild Love” captivate with their freshness and energy.
The chemistry between Joanne and her bandmates, Joe, Shane, Phil, and Eric, is undeniable as they effortlessly navigate through a diverse setlist, ranging from soulful ballads to uptempo blues-rock anthems. Each track is executed with precision and passion, leaving the audience spellbound and yearning for more.
Fade Away – Fantastic acoustic strumming tones ooze from the stage as Joanne steps forward and brings her infectious vocals to us tonight. The mood is real as we feel the emotion coming from the heartfelt lyrics that really tell the story and just grab our attention as we watch Joanne bring her story to life. The sweet cool piano tones set the mood as we feel the track wrap itself around us and we just let this incredible musician do her thing and take us on the journey, the place is silent as we watch and listen to the heartfelt lyrics take us to another place and give us emotion, soul and real tone as the band deliver a beautiful arrangement that lets the crowd show their appreciation for this talented musician as we stroll into
Runaway – This is a really sweet little track that brings all the musicians together as we get a funk-laden rhythm section that hits us with cool solid sounds that are letting this track breathe. Bass grooves are handing us sweet meaty funk tones that allow the track to grow as the band really lifts the arrangement Joanne’s soulful vocals are just oozing classy tones that let the piano notes wander freely through this foot-tapping piece as we are just enjoying ourselves as we near the end of the show
Highlights like “Diamonds In The Dirt” and “Sweet Lil Lies” resonate deeply, leaving an indelible mark on the audience. Joanne’s emotive delivery and the band’s infectious energy culminate in a truly unforgettable experience, reaffirming their status as consummate musicians.
Going Home – Joanne kicks things off with sweet guitar picks that have cymbal taps that let the rhythm section make itself known. Vocals bring in a real deep soulful smokey vocal that just lifts this awesome arrangement skywards as the whole track just erupts into life and we just feel the blues explosion coming from the stage tonight. Bass grooves are handing us dark moody grooves that are just driving these awesome track forwards, keys are giving us a real Hammond-style vibe as this rocking monster just hits us with wave after wave of delicious bluesy chords that are just taking the roof off this place tonight and send us home with a huge smile on our face as we have just witnessed something special tonight. The place was rocking and rolling for sure as Joanne and the boys brought the groove tonight.
Joanne Shaw Taylor –
Joanne – Electric / Acoustic Guitar / Vocals
Joe – Guitar
Shane – Bass
Phil – Keys
Eric – Drums
Setlist –
In The Mood
Keep On Loving Me
All Of My Love
If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody
Can’t You See What You’re Doing To Me
Dyin To Know
Wild Love (New Track)
Won’t Be Fooled Again
Watch Em Burn
Diamonds In The Dirt
Fade Away
Runaway
Sweet Lil Lies
Bad Love
Going Home
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