Kitty Coen Live at the Libra

I heard of Kitty through a friend with immaculate ears. Her latest album is Conversations with the Moon, which nicely summarises what you can expect. The album sounds and tastes like a movie soundtrack for the best David Lynch movie he never quite got around to making. Possibly verging on horror, some of the tracks call to mind the best bits of Sinners.

I simply had to get to Camden once I heard Kitty would be showing up with not only a full band of her own, but two support artists. The night was sold-out, standing room only, and I became aware that I was in the midst of a group of huge Kitty fans. She played a couple of older, louder songs that really shook the basement including Cadillac and El Paso, and if you have heard Kitty before, it is likely that song is Center of the Sun, which always makes me think of Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.

Kitty Coen is a rising star of the future. She's building an inclusive international fan base that is dying to hear what she does next.

The album's title track is rapidly becoming one of my favourites. conversations with the moon calls to mind not only Blue Velvet (Lynch again) but even more so, Blue Moon and Elvis. She covers a wide range. Something for all.

The set featured most of the new album including coca!ne jacket, grave dancin' and one that grows on me with every play, strawberry. The one that got everyone singing near the start was my initial favourite, illinois royalty, which just has that special it somehow.

Kitty got us all involved in bad bad liar but sadly the night ended too soon. While the audience were screaming for an encore, Kitty was deciding which song to finish on. Someone from the back shouted: just play the whole show again. Indeed!

A word for the British boys in the band. Andy on drums and guitarist Kaspar. They had minimal rehearsal time, some of it online, yet it felt like they had all been playing together for years.

I blasted out everything's a mess in the car on the way back from the station. Kitty has a song for every mood, and after a night like this I decided that perhaps everything wasn't quite as messy as some would have you believe. Surely we can all just be nicer to each other?

You can start here to begin your Kitty Coen enchantment. Her Insta is here and the videos are here. You can join the mailing list. A few UK tickets are still available.

Susannah Clegg

I had been playing Kitty Coen on repeat for about a week before the show, but yesterday I began to research Susannah Clegg, one of the support acts. What I found was promising. A fellow northerner with a Country obsession. She looks and sounds like she grew up on the banks of the Mississippi but instead grew up near Manchester, or Lancaster in fact. She tours across Britain so you should be able to find her nearby.

Susannah cites artists such as Willie Watson, Sierra Ferrell and Gillian Welch as inspirations. Last night the highlights were an unreleased song called Caroline, fan favourite Colorado, a 'happy song' called Put Me In My Grave and a brilliant version of the Merle Travis classic, Sixteen Tons. Susannah has a strong voice and delivered a brilliant set. Strongly recommended.

“[Colorado] has a dusty, sort of rustic feel... music for an open road, under a big sky.” — William Wolstenholme, BBC Introducing

Godspeed Jones

One of the best parts of seeing a live show is picking up a voice of the future, and last night there were two support acts. I understand Godspeed Jones is working on a new EP but if last night was anything to go by, they have an enormous future. The highlight for me was December 22, about an unhinged ex. I also loved a song by underscores which, unsurprisingly, turned out to be called Johnny johnny johnny and featured a precious kazoo. Keep an ear on Godspeed.

Libra Theatre Café

This underground basement is a wonder, and played its part well last night. They host music most Tuesdays and lots of other entertainment throughout the week.

Also a small nod to the photographers featured above. I have started to learn more about how their art is being compromised by practices similar to those that are hurting musicians, but they capture the spirit of an evening in a vibrant way that remains a mystery to me, as you can tell from my own work below.