It was the occasion of LRB regular Alan (The Hat’s) Birthday that coincided with the first visit to the LRB for Charlotte Carpenter and the seventh for Danni Nicholls as she closes down her 2022 ‘Hear Your Voice’ UK tour and if you were there, you’ll know how special this was.
First up, and with Stan on the main camera, and after a brief welcome and introduction from J as the perfect embodiment of independence, with reviews in Total Guitar, Classic Rock etc, a lady who produces and records her own music, much of which is available on Band Camp, we have Charlotte Carpenter.
Charlotte played a selection of her own songs using three guitars. An Electric Baritone for the first four numbers, a Takamine Acoustic for the next two and a Fender Telecaster.
Shelter was first up as Charlotte tells us about recording her new album, due out next year. (2023)
Fine Line continues on a similar musical theme, with an old song next that has been re imagined now Charlotte has asserted her independence. To put it mildly, she didn’t like the production of the original, it just wasn’t her vision… Turn Away
Now Charlotte shares the story and fears of co writing The Secret Second a song about the mystery of arriving in a certain moment in time, before she switches to acoustic guitar introducing a love song about the end of the world inspired by Dystopian TV shows and the state of the world today, You’re My Reason Why.
On reflection during the recent restrictions, Charlotte went back to her roots re discovering why she wanted to become a musician in the first instance. Breaking with tradition she plays a cover of a cover of a Radiohead song, No Surprises Track 10 of their OK COMPUTER album and a lovely version it was too.
Complementing the LRB lawn as Charlotte tuned up her Telecaster, we learn that J employs a Lawn Ranger to great effect… Laughs… Who knew? But it does look great…
Editor: One of many hats to keep the show on the road 🙂
Blood Ties Part 2 follows, a song inspired by difficult family relations, a universal theme with a Dystopian atmospheric sound for sure… Followed by Spinning Plates, Something we know a lot about running the LRB…
The last two songs, back to back, close this set, Fire and Like A Hurricane…
Thank you, Charlotte Carpenter…
Now after the great food break from Lyn and her team, and a chance to chat and mingle, we have some thanks from J to the LRB crew and the introduction of Q as the sound engineer for the evening.
We welcome back the multi award nominated Danni Nicholls, with Sam Barrett on Guitar along with Mark Lewis playing Double bass as she opens with a spectacular version of Frozen Track 6 from THE MELTED MORNING album.
This is the first time Sam has played at the LRB and his guitar playing shone from the outset, Mark’s bass and percussion made this sound a haunting experience…
Editor: Sam’s guitar guru and mentor is none other than Max Milligan…hailed by Acoustic Magazine as ‘one of Britain’s best acoustic guitarists. Many will know, Max played alongside Danni for a number of years and indeed Cherry Lee Mewis. www.maxmilligan.co.uk
Losing it follows (Track 2 from the album) and you can see Danni and the band are enjoying it all having honed these songs down well through the tour…
Next, track 9 from the album, co written with Ben Glover about the power of Human connection, Texas, a lovely song…
Wild Is The Water opens THE MELTED MORNING album and calls up some lovely harmonies from Sam and Mark along with more superb musicianship.
So, we now have a new single little Fictions written in 2020 with Rebekah Powell Danni tells us, as she tunes Penny (Her Gretsch guitar) This song just builds and builds, beautifully performed.
Going back in time, from Danni’s first record Hey There Sunshine Lifts the tempo, if there was room to dance, I’m sure people would have now…
Time for some Blues, and a cover, but it’s a great cover… Danni loves it and so do we. Written by Randy Newman, Guilty… a chance for Sam to demonstrate his Blues chops which he does with aplomb… leading us to something Danni is great at writing… A Break Up Song… From her 2015 Break Up Album MOCKINGBIRD LANE, Beautifully Broken…
Who fancies a singalong? Danni asks as she introduces and old favourite Long Way From Memphis, coaching the unfamiliar with the chorus. Happily many of the audience joined in, as I often say, you come to the LRB, you’re in the band. Live music is a collective experience that’s good for the soul.
More singalong as everyone was so good at it, with I don’t know Where The Blue Train Goes. Wow, that’s the best I’ve heard that one…
A special cover for tonight’s show as a thanks to Jonathan, Lyn and Stan who has done Danni’s Merchandise for the whole tour. Featuring Sam Barrett on fiddle, we have Tennessee Waltz. That was lovely and reminded me of when she performed the song way back when in the early days of LRB.
Danni, now is without guitar but a glass of whisky in hand as Sam picks up the acoustic duties for Look Up At The Moon from MOCKINGBIRD LANE, co written by Phil Madeira. A lovely jazz club feel to this one leads to a love song, Ancient Embers, again, like so many songs tonight, from THE MELTED MORNING album.
Now we have the title track of the tour, Hear Your Voice, written with Kyshona Armstrong. Danni playing Electric Guitar, where we were encouraged to sing along so she could hear our voices too. We all need to be heard in life is the moral of the song beautifully performed prior to the last song of the evening and the tour…
Danni gives her thanks as she chases the crown of most played musician at LRB, currently held by the wonderful Eve Selis…
The title track of a song based on a poem published by the Woman’s Institute of Westleton featuring more audience participation in the form of humming… A Little Redemption…
Wow, that went down well as the audience demanded more, it’s what the LRB is all about…
If Danni is going for the record, (and she is) she will have to earn it and these encores go along way to that goal… They linger in the memory for a long time.
Travelling Man Lifts the LRB roof again, Sam playing some fine acoustic solos, false endings adding to the tension… as Sam picks up the fiddle too for a proper LRB Hoe Down…
Danni is happy and it shows after what could be seen as the best night of a successful tour, closing with the Will Kimborough song, Goodnight Moon. What could be more perfect? The standing ovation said it all, Thank you Danni Nicholls, Mark Lewis and Sam Barrett.
Editor:
Thanks to DANNI NICHOLLS and CHARLOTTE CARPENTER for a brilliant evening and an end of tour show for Danni, finishing on a high. A seventh appearance at LRB…it’s so nice to welcome artists back to Little Rabbit Barn.
Thanks to everyone involved with the production: Q sound engineer; The fabulous little rabbit crew of Chris on video cameras and setup, Stan on setup and artist merchandise, Stan and Fran on guest list, Brian running Little Rabbit Bar and big thanks to Chris for helping Lyn with food.
Review, Video & Picture credits: Chris
Photography: Andy Sheard
AV editing: J (work in progress)
To all wonderful LRB guests and friends who support live music at LRB, big thanks and hope to see y’all next time
We will be back and ready to welcome a popular return for KARA GRAINGER and BAND | HANNAH ALDRIDGE with GUSTAV SJODIN on 02 July 2022.
Best wishes, Keep Safe & See Y’all soon
The LRB team
