Nikki Lane, The Delines @ Meeniyan Town Hall, Meeniyan (24/10/2014)
Nikki Lane and The Delines brought their own version of alt-country Americana to South Gippsland’s Meeniyan Town Hall on Friday night.
While the live setting sees the two acts approach their delivery in a stylistically different manner to the other, the commonality for expressing heartfelt “real world” songs meant that both were triumphant on the night as their quality performances were embraced by an appreciative audience. The Delines oozed calm coolness and Nikki Lane came across like a barely controlled hurricane but the result was complimentary performances that combined to provide a great night out! The Delines are the latest project for Willy Vlautin (Richmond Fontaine’s singer songwriter and successful author) who are touring in support of their debut album Colfax. It has been reported that the songs for Colfax were a |
result of Vlautin wanting to provide material for singer Amy Boone and this would come as no surprise as her vocals were a highlight. The band was clearly comfortable as a collective, a special mention to Cory Gray who provided important keyboard and trumpet contributions (often at the same time!), and the songs flowed seamlessly.
Kicking off with the dreamy album opener Calling In the class of the Delines was clearly observable from the beginning. This was followed by the Lucinda Williams sounding Colfax Ave before Boone’s aching vocal delivery on The Oil Rigs at Night. This album highlight transferred spectacularly to the live setting. In fact all of the album tracks worked magnificently live (favourites on the night included Wichita Ain't So Far Away, State Line, I Won’t Slip Up and bonus track Slim and Margy). While acknowledging there is darkness to this set of Vlautin songs, there was also room for fun on the night. The stage banter was relaxed and humorous (an example being Vlautin’s introduction for non-album track Rudy, which was dedicated to his “horse who wanted to star in a spaghetti western”), while bassist Freddy Trujillo’s Freddy Fender tribute , from his Amexica album, was equally well received.
The debut performance of a new song, He Don’t Burn For Me Anymore, was spectacular and it felt like a very special moment - you had to wonder how many people will cover this soulful, aching number. A great set was brought to a close by showstopper He Told Her The City Was Killing Him. Beautiful vocals, classy band, heartfelt songs – the Delines are a great!
The second part of the evening saw the Nashville based dynamo that is Nikki Lane take to the stage. Her songs are equally personal and heartfelt, but where the Delines use a soul touching groove, Lane prefers an in-your-face bluntness. She is touring in support of her sophomore album All Or Nothin’ which was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Not surprisingly songs from that were particularly guitar driven and translated exceptionally well in to the live setting. Special mention should go to accompanying lead guitarist Alex Munoz and the songs gave him plenty of room to shine; twangy riffs, wah-wah and slide solos, all nailed by this exceptionally talented muso.
Lane herself steals the show! Her own twangy voice and strong acoustic guitar playing simply wins you over! The new album is great and the songs rocked while maintaining that atmospheric alt-country vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in a Tarantino film. Right Time kicked, Seein’ Double had a fat guitar driven sound, All Or Nothin’ had a Cinnamon Girl feel; all this took off without diminishing the vulnerability that is the essence of the songs. A fact reinforced by the slower but absolutely revealing Want My Heart back, You Can’t Talk to Me Like That and Out Of My Mind (co-written with J. Spaceman of Spiritualised). Older tracks like Gone, Gone, Gone and the excellent Walk Of Shame were icing on the cake. Throw in some covers (Tom Petty’s Saving Grace and Dylan’s You Aint Goin’ Nowhere) and a non-album track with a great name, 700 000 Rednecks, to just prove that this country girl’s pedigree rocks. This was a great performance!
So in the battle of the Delines vs Nikki Lane, who wins? The answer: the audience! Great acts performing in a great venue; well done also to the folks of Lyrebird Arts Council!
Darren Parker
Kicking off with the dreamy album opener Calling In the class of the Delines was clearly observable from the beginning. This was followed by the Lucinda Williams sounding Colfax Ave before Boone’s aching vocal delivery on The Oil Rigs at Night. This album highlight transferred spectacularly to the live setting. In fact all of the album tracks worked magnificently live (favourites on the night included Wichita Ain't So Far Away, State Line, I Won’t Slip Up and bonus track Slim and Margy). While acknowledging there is darkness to this set of Vlautin songs, there was also room for fun on the night. The stage banter was relaxed and humorous (an example being Vlautin’s introduction for non-album track Rudy, which was dedicated to his “horse who wanted to star in a spaghetti western”), while bassist Freddy Trujillo’s Freddy Fender tribute , from his Amexica album, was equally well received.
The debut performance of a new song, He Don’t Burn For Me Anymore, was spectacular and it felt like a very special moment - you had to wonder how many people will cover this soulful, aching number. A great set was brought to a close by showstopper He Told Her The City Was Killing Him. Beautiful vocals, classy band, heartfelt songs – the Delines are a great!
The second part of the evening saw the Nashville based dynamo that is Nikki Lane take to the stage. Her songs are equally personal and heartfelt, but where the Delines use a soul touching groove, Lane prefers an in-your-face bluntness. She is touring in support of her sophomore album All Or Nothin’ which was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys. Not surprisingly songs from that were particularly guitar driven and translated exceptionally well in to the live setting. Special mention should go to accompanying lead guitarist Alex Munoz and the songs gave him plenty of room to shine; twangy riffs, wah-wah and slide solos, all nailed by this exceptionally talented muso.
Lane herself steals the show! Her own twangy voice and strong acoustic guitar playing simply wins you over! The new album is great and the songs rocked while maintaining that atmospheric alt-country vibe that wouldn’t be out of place in a Tarantino film. Right Time kicked, Seein’ Double had a fat guitar driven sound, All Or Nothin’ had a Cinnamon Girl feel; all this took off without diminishing the vulnerability that is the essence of the songs. A fact reinforced by the slower but absolutely revealing Want My Heart back, You Can’t Talk to Me Like That and Out Of My Mind (co-written with J. Spaceman of Spiritualised). Older tracks like Gone, Gone, Gone and the excellent Walk Of Shame were icing on the cake. Throw in some covers (Tom Petty’s Saving Grace and Dylan’s You Aint Goin’ Nowhere) and a non-album track with a great name, 700 000 Rednecks, to just prove that this country girl’s pedigree rocks. This was a great performance!
So in the battle of the Delines vs Nikki Lane, who wins? The answer: the audience! Great acts performing in a great venue; well done also to the folks of Lyrebird Arts Council!
Darren Parker