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   Review :Laura Veirs – The Lowry, Salford
Band: Alex Guy (keyboards and violin/viola) and Tim Young (guitars)
Reviewer: Dave Cunningham The Public Reviews Rating: Four out of Five. This is the first time that Laura Veirs has played a gig in Salford and the accent is something of a barrier. ‘Don’t be fooled’ a local calls out in response to her observation about the cleanliness of the area. ‘ Doobie Cool ? ‘asks a bewildered Veirs. Veirs is not a conventional songwriter taking inspiration from prolific base- players and flocks of migrating birds. Her lyrics are literate and at times disturbing and her tunes mournful and even sinister. So the crystal clear acoustics of the Lowry make it an ideal venue particularly as Veirs is touring without a drummer and so benefits from a less rowdy atmosphere than in the clubs she usually plays. Violin player Alex Guy gets the chance to shine enhancing the tunes with a doleful drone from her instruments. Veirs has a remarkable voice with high, clear tones that can descend into a breathless whisper but always be perfectly audible. The mood at the concert is relaxed and intimate as though we have dropped in on three friends playing, as Veirs puts it, a bunch of songs from different albums. And not just her own tunes – a smattering of children’s folk songs and a superb cover of Neil Young’s ‘Unknown Legend’ also feature. The casual approach gives Veirs the flexibility to respond to the demands of a particularly vocal punter so we get an extended encore and the chance to appreciate the ability of her band to improvise. At times, however, there is an element of self-indulgence. The band performs – for no apparent reason- a Henry Purcell trio round that they worked up in the van. Guitarist Tim Young delivers a lecture on chord progression and we learn more than we needed to know about the band including the ability of Veirs to pee in a cup if the facilities at venues are not to standard. ‘Tumble Bee’, the current album of folk songs for children, is promoted with interesting results. Whilst the versions of the songs are undeniably charming Veirs sometimes struggles to provide an up-beat tempo. ‘ All the Pretty Little Horses ‘ has an ominous undertone that is unlikely to lull a child to sleep. Laura Veirs is a refreshingly acerbic talent who puts to shame the bland performers that currently clog the charts and her ongoing tour is the chance to see her the height of her powers.
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