Live Review
Tenterhook + Frances + Freddie Dickson + Charlotte OC
The Louisiana, Bristol
April 29 2015
Words/Photos: Pollyanna Sheehan
Having previously featured acts including the likes of Amber Run on their bi-annual ‘New Faces’ tour - and supporting releases from Michael Kiwanuka to Ben Howard - Communion have firmly established a strong reputation for promoting some of the best new talent around. In keeping with the ethos of Communion, the ‘New Faces’ tour gives the opportunity for each artist to headline at least one date.
This present tour, finishing its seven-date run tonight at Bristol's Louisiana, sees Charlotte OC first onstage, accompanied by a duo of bass and a keys/synths player. Unfortunately, shows in smaller venues like The Louisiana that have early starting times can mean that the majority of the audience don’t arrive until later than the suggested times - which was exactly the case here. Seemingly undeterred, Charlotte OC delivered a truly spectacular set that could have easily been performed to hundreds - as opposed to a handful - of people. With a tremendous vocal that carries, songs such as ‘On and On’ and ‘Colour My Heart’ worked to create a sultry pop-vibe, which could see these tracks potentially become strong contenders for future chart success. Seeming at ease on stage, Charlotte OC continued to show the versatile nature of her performance. Changing things mid-set, she picked up a guitar and launched into a solo blues-styled track that was complete with a daring but effective moment of silence mid-song. The rotating order of acts on the bill may confuse many who aren’t aware of the way that the ‘New Faces’ tour operates, and the latecomers had missed a truly exceptional 30 minutes of music.
Next up was Freddie Dickson who was to give an emotionally evocative set, full of tender and often slow-building guitar and piano-based ballads. Starting with ‘All Means Something’ followed by ‘News’, Dickson’s strong and soulful vocal was complemented with backing harmonies provided by his onstage band. Introducing ‘Your Love Was Meant For Me’ as him transitioning “from one pathetic ballad to another” - albeit this time a piano ballad - Dickson's performance was adorably tender, emblematic of his well-crafted writing style that is a far cry from ever being described as pathetic. After experiencing a few technical issues with the second mic, Dickson kept the crowd entertained by joking that this actually a “marketing ploy” to plug his EP. Met with laughter and applause from the audience, he wrapped up his set with ‘Speculate’, full of solid guitar riffs, intricate fills, and a punchy chorus.
Continuing to add diversity to the evening, it was the turn of Frances, whose piano-based singer-songwriter style worked a treat with the intimate sized crowd that had gathered. Alone on stage and seated at a piano, she produced a set full of haunting ballads that entranced the crowd. ‘A Million Lines’ and ‘Coming Up For Air’ featured intricate piano melodies that eventually reached a gentle climax, which she delivered impeccably. In between songs, her conversational and bubbly personality was engaging and warm, with the crowd and expressing her sadness about finishing this tour - a sentiment that was echoed by all acts that performed. It was impossible not to strike comparisons between Frances’ humbling vocal and the likes of Adele. Yet the addition of a full band, as heard on her recordings, would shake off these comparisons by adding an extra dimension to her live performance.
Last up to delight the crowd was Tenterhook - aka Archie Faulks - who took to the stage with an electro-acoustic guitar. Opening with the song that first brought him to attention early last year, ‘Stereo’, his soaring and tender falsetto coupled with his refreshingly honest lyrics, was to make for a set full of instantly enjoyable songs. Sharing stories of his tour antics, Tenterhook exposed his sincere side when introducing his third offering, ‘Whispers’: a song which is about realising you're in love with your best friend. This is a theme that no doubt resonated with a few members of the audience, if the hushed laughter was anything to go by. Touching performances such as this, and the equally as reflective ‘Go Easy’, place Tenterhook’s sound and performance style between other singer-songwriters that are much in demand currently like Rhodes, Paul Thomas Saunders and Ed Sheeran - without the loop pedal and the rapping!
All the acts on the bill, each bringing a different feel to the stage, made for a night not just of the pleasure of seeing and hearing four high calibre artists, but four who all proved that while they may be 'new faces' now, they are ones who we will be seeing much more of.
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