Courtney Marie Andrews - Mackintosh Church Glasgow

It had been too long since I'd seen Courtney Marie Andrews play. December 9th 2018 to be exact at the CCA in Glasgow. A gig that nearly didn't happen as Courtney Marie had contracted flu and had cancelled a number of UK dates only returning to the stage in Perth on the 8th where she was clearly still suffering and the next night in Glasgow. Both those gigs were strong performances and closed off the touring of the 'May Your Kindness Remain' tour.

She should have toured the 'Old Flowers' album in 2020 but a stronger flu virus closed everything down worldwide so that elongated our wait for this much anticipated tour and Glasgow gig. 

The venue for this a Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed church was fitting both for the solo performance but also for her devoted following sitting in pews rapt with attention and in awe of her power and the poignancy of her songs. As a member of the support said 'I guess you're here for some sad songs'. Sad songs indeed but delivered with a lyrical and performative maturity that made the show life affirming.

The set focussed on the songs from 'Old Flowers' with the title song kept for a powerful piano accompanied encore. It was breath-taking and closed the night. Songs from her breakthrough album 'Honest Life' filled out the set. She also featured three new songs (James Dean, On/Off, To Be Wanted) which were unfamiliar but very well received. The single 'Near You' also featured and has graced her setlist for some time now.

While it was a solo show Courtney Marie was joined in stage by support act Memorial who provided beautiful harmonies for a trio of songs from 'Old Flowers' - If I Told, Burlap String and Break the Spell. These unique reinterpretations of the recorded songs made the evening something to savour. 

It was wonderful to see her again that the crowd gave a thunderous call back for her encore and a heartfelt standing ovation at the close.

Welcome back Courtney Marie, we have missed you.

https://www.courtneymarieandrews.com/

https://www.communionmusic.co.uk/artists/memorial/

Courtney Marie Andrews, Perth 8.12.18

There is something so genuine about Courtney Marie Andrews. Tonight underlined that. Appearing solo after touring most of the year with her band in support of one of this years best albums 'May Your Kindness Remain' Courtney Marie stripped the music down to its essence - voice, acoustic guitar and piano (alternating the last two).

The intimate setting of the Joan Knight studio at Perth Theatre allowed Courtney Marie the space to concentrate on telling us some of the stories behind the songs - who inspired them, what part of her life they were from. In short she just played us her amazing songs which are stories in themselves. She took requests at one point with hilarious consequences when she started '500 Nights' only to forget the second line and having to settle for the chorus - 'I've not played that song in 5 years!'. She hadn't factored in the extent of the audience knowledge of and affection for her work!
There were a number of stand outs for me including 'Honest Life', 'Paintings from Michael' (a song about her incarcerated uncle which seems to grow more powerful every time I hear her play it), 'Irene', 'Only in my Mind' and 'Rough around the Edges'. She finished the set by unplugging the guitar and stepping away from the microphone to sing 'May Your Kindness Remain'. It was a special moment and a special way to end a wonderful night.

I'll be seeing her again tonight at the CCA in Glasgow and to say I'm looking forward to it is an understatement.

Courtney Marie Andrews at Summerhall 20 April 2018

Courtney Marie Andrews is frankly at the top of her game right now. No two ways about it her show tonight was one of the best I've seen with the warmest and most enthusiastic reception from her growing audience.
Last time I saw Courtney Marie Andrews she was touring solo and previewing the songs from her new album 'May Your Kindness Remain'. Between January and now with the addition of her band those songs have grown and the blues country soul vibe has distilled into that much sought after but rare thing that I can only describe a cosmic American music - ok I've stolen that - but I think it is apt in describing the combination of her songs, their arrangements and the sound the band cooks up. There were moments tonight where I was thinking of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and the Band. This was especially evident during the evenings closing number a cover of Little Feat's 'Willin'.

The whole set was beautifully paced starting with last two tracks from the new album 'Long Road Back to You' and 'I've Hurt Worse' both of which pulled the crowd in and showed that these songs may be new but have more than connected with her audience. People were singing along and clearly love these songs and the ones that followed.
To say that Courtney Marie Andrews has hit her stride would be an understatement of monumental standards. She's been touring constantly both solo and with her band, writing all the time and she keeps coming up with the goods. This is her time but you can't help feeling that the best is astonishingly still to come.
She has songs which are audience favourites like 'Near You' and 'Sea Town' which have not appeared on albums but remain mainstays of the live show. Sea Town in particular has featured in every CMA gig I've been at. That's five in total and the performance of the song has moved from a plaintive lament into a rocking celebration of returning.
We were treated to eighteen songs tonight in Summerhall's 'Dissection Room' showcasing the best of the new album and its predecessor 'Honest Life'. Her songs clearly touch a common core across the ages that was evident tonight with a very mixed age range. Live she always engages with the audience with humour and charm between the songs and then that voice soars. More, Courtney Marie, more!

 Note: in the heat tonight an audience member fainted, thankfully recovering. Courtney Marie stopped the show immediately and took a respectful break.