Having had a disappointing gig experience on the previous evening, it was down to The Countess to restore my faith in the re-invigorating nature of immersing yourself in live music. I had every faith in the band to deliver, and deliver they did, a first-class performance to announce the arrival of the stunning debut album Star of the Sea (reviewed here)
The venue was the intimate setting of southside gem, The Glad Cafe, where I was delighted join a sea of friendly faces in celebrating the album’s release. Before the main attraction it was the turn of Kirsten Adamson (as a fellow Fifer, Kirsten is also a member of the headliners) to entertain. Playing a selection of songs from across her career, the set included two songs which I’m sure induced a lump in the throat or a tear in the eye for many, her own song, the emotional My Father’s Songs and finishing with one of her father’s songs, and encouraging a sing along to, In a Big Country. Kirsten will be playing a launch show for her new album as part of next year’s Celtic Connections.
It wasn’t long before Kirsten returned to the stage with acoustic guitar alongside drummer extraordinaire, Willie Molleson, stand-up bass supremo Al Gare and of course, the Countess and Lord themselves, Fay Fife and Allan McDowall. The stage was set for a brilliant evening, and so it played out. Fay had the small but perfectly formed crowd eating out of her hand from the off, her personality shining through in both her vocal performances and in her between song banter and the stories of the songs. In doing so she answered my question as to why the fragile beauty that is Angel in My Pocket wasn’t on the album. Playing a stunning version in tonight’s set, Fay explained that they just hadn’t succeeded in giving it the justice it deserves on record. Maybe on the next one.
Let me just say this once again, Ms Fife has an extraordinary vocal, a voice which I think is vastly underappreciated. She has a range that covers everything from delicate and angelic, to deeply resonant, powerfully reverberating around the room. The music of The Countess of Fife is a perfect platform for her arresting voice, their unique brand of attitude laced alt-country providing an ideal foil to her sass laden vocal. We were treated to a veritable cornucopia of delights. Kicking off in style with Empty Headed, the band just got better and better with each song they played, stories of local hairdressers and touring around Europe interlaced throughout the songs that make up Star of the Sea ending the main set with the albums opening song the mighty Wandering Star.
Despite not actually leaving the stage, a logistical problem for drummer Willie, the band “returned” for a storming version of Take Me to the Grave. This song which always makes me think of Will the Circle Be Unbroken, and has a great vocal interplay between Allan and Fay. They followed this with a superb version of The Revillos Mindbending Cutie Doll which, as Fay mentioned on the night, is perfectly suited to the bands style.
A superb night of high-quality music packed with soul and emotion in a great wee venue and in the company of some wonderful people, what more could you want?
Follow the band on social media to make sure you don’t miss out on any future gigs.
