Courtney Marie Andrews returned to Belfast three years after her last trip to the city to belatedly promote her rather excellent ‘Old Flowers’ album. The record centred on breakup and heartache. Delivered on the beautifully lit stage in a church setting, the songs seem to carry an extra resonance.
That said, Courtney could sing a ransom demand down the phone while holding my first-born child captive, and I would still love her voice. There is a rich sweetness imbued with an ever-present hint of sadness in her voice that is at once beguiling and intoxicating.
Two-man vocal band, Memorial provided an excellent choice as support for the Arizonian, with soft strummed songs helping to create a very mellow feel in the austere ecclesiastical settings of the Central Church. Ross and Chandler, (Lisa and Bart as Courtney referred to them at a point) had an easy charm about them and some good material, particularly the engaging ‘Moth To The Flame’.
Courtney enters the stage immaculately turned out in a white lace dress and matching boots and immediately delivered with a stunning rendition of ‘Rookie Dreaming’. The quality never dropped the whole evening.
A new song, and soon to be fan favourite, ‘James Dean’ followed before the first single off the new album ‘It Must Be Someone Else’s Fault’. No denying the quality of her voice or songwriting, but she also has some amazing chops when it comes to guitar playing, with serious skills on display, and perhaps because of the beauty of that voice, she is underrated as a player. She shouldn’t be. The timely anthem for lovers, whatever their orientation, ‘Irene’, remains a gem in any setting and is met with huge applause at its conclusion.
The mix section of the gig centred on material from ‘Old Flowers’, with the lads from Memorial, Ross and Chandler helping out with beautiful high harmonies on three of the songs.
The pace and tone of the new material is in marked contrast to her previous album, and achingly so. The church is used to silent reflections, but that’s what was happening now. Serene and painful meditations on loss, that universal feeling is known by all, and so exquisitely expressed tonight in song.
‘Break The Spell’ is such a heartbreaking tune, but so too are ‘Guilty’ and ‘Ships In The Night’.
The chat between songs was delivered quietly, with a smile on her face, and a rapport with all in the venue. Another new song ‘To Be Wanted’ suggests that the rich seam of songwriting gems will continue unabated for some time.
Courtney exudes charm and warmth on stage. My only possible criticism of the gig was its relatively short duration, or perhaps I just wanted her to sing all night. Courtney returned to take requests. The chugging vibe of ‘Seatown’, the stark confessional of ‘Honest Life’ in a very appropriate setting and, for me, the magnificent jewel in Courtney’s cannon, ‘Near You’.
A night to remember, the only mystery remains, why is Courtney Marie Andrews playing small churches and not the huge auditoriums that her undoubted talent should command?