17 January 2012 (gig)
22 January 2012
As Wolf’s People said during the show, 2011 had been good for them, with a critically successful album and an ever heightening profile, but time moves one and this short tour was basically closing the Steeple chapter.
Solo singer Olivia Chaney was up first. Playing piano and the guitar her sensitive, folky set was well received, and she certainly has a rich, beautiful voice. A confident performance, marred by the incessant chatter that is really starting to become a problem at gigs, and here appeared to aggravate the artist.
Diagonal had a good night tonight but one can see how this band could be classed under the ‘difficult’ banner. They’re jazz, prog and rock mash ups did bring to mind Van Der Graaf Generator, who are not exactly known for their accessibility. However, for the most part they held the crowds attention.
The headliners came on and after a lengthy intro got stuck into the mournful Morning Born. A slightly risky opener but it was immediately apparent that while the Steeple album is no lightweight, live these songs take on a rawer, harder edge. Silbury Sands and Castle Keep certainly benefited from this more aggressive approach, and a heavier direction was palpable in the new song. The coupled Banks of Sweet Dundee Parts 1 and 2 were thoughtfully performed and very moving.
The band were certainly enjoying themselves with some good natured interaction with the crowd – just as well as the vocals were for the most part unintelligible - and when they decided to just jam and play off each other. There was a natural chemistry between the musicians, which the audience picked up on, and just let themselves go with.
The Sabbathy rhythms of One by One from Dorney Reach rounded of the main set. Encores followed with Ross Harris playing flute on a vicious Tiny Circle and Runter. And that was it, polite good byes and thanks yous from the band, leaving the audience to look forward to the next stage of Wolf People’s career.
