It was a very intimate setting for a show to remember when Amanda Shires came to Space in Evanston.
The venue was already three-quarters full as Honey Harper took to the stage on Saturday night and it’s doubtful anybody in the room will have regretted getting there early. William Fussell and the band stepped out onto the stage and entertained the room for 45 minutes with songs from Starmaker and Honey Harper and The Infinite Sky. This was our first experience of Honey Harper and one which definitely made an impression. Thought-provoking lyrics, lovely melodies, and some truly beautiful three-part harmonies (along with, hands down, the best whistling we have ever heard in a song) made for a truly attention-grabbing set for which the audience readily showed their appreciation. Definitely a band we will make a point of looking out for in the future.
It must be a fantastic job being in Amanda Shires‘ band. Putting aside all the musical reasons for this, you get to be introduced by Shires every night and that alone must be a real treat. Whether it’s the fact that you’re the person that “will save you if you’re lost in a forest” or a comment on your proficiency at Pacman, her band introductions are definitely different and always thoughtful, personal, and amusing (we’ll not give any of the detailed introductions away here so you can enjoy them in real-time if you’re attending an upcoming show). We know it’s strange to start a show review with a discussion about how the band is introduced but it seemed fitting here since the words we use to describe the way Amanda introduces her band (different, thoughtful, personal, and amusing) are exactly how we’d describe her approach to music and live performance. Shires is definitely not a formulaic, rinse and repeat, kind of songwriter/performer. She is something much more and that’s what makes her so fascinating to watch.
We saw Shires perform at ShoalsFest earlier this year and, as was the case there, this set was heavy on songs from her new album Take It Like a Man. We commented in our ShoalsFest review that, in our opinion, the album may be her best work yet and it’s worth repeating here. She mentioned on her Instagram page during the writing process that “You can have poetic language in songs, but a song isn’t necessarily a poem and a poem isn’t necessarily a song.” Striking the right balance is a process that must be extremely time-consuming and, at times, frustrating with re-writes, cuts, additions, and sleepless nights trying to get it just right. As one of her heroes, Leonard Cohen said, “The cutting of the gem has to be finished before you can see whether it shines.” On Take it Like a Man, that hard work has definitely paid off with Shires managing to strike exactly the right balance, expressing deeply personal thoughts and feelings through some beautifully poetic language.
The musicianship on display throughout the show was, as expected, of the highest quality. Shires’ band was flawless, providing her with a solid and beautifully atmospheric platform upon which she could deliver her vocals. There are some big and emotionally weighty issues being dealt with in many of Shires’ songs but when watching her live, the banter with her band, and the personal anecdotes she shares with the audience keep things light in between. When the talking stops and a song is counted off, however, it’s business time with Shires immediately fully immersed in the performance and committed to delivering it with as much raw emotion and power as is humanly possible (whether through her vocals or her fiddle). It’s always impressive to watch an artist with the ability to switch it on like this and there’s no doubt that going to “that place” when performing such deeply personal songs must sometimes take a toll. Indeed, during the show Amanda needed to take a moment during a couple of songs, notably “Highwomen,” to gather herself. As the night drew to a close, there were a couple of false starts on “Eve’s Daughter” as her memory betrayed her but she dealt with it like a pro and it ultimately only endeared her further to the audience. For the encore, Shires walked back onto the stage alone and delivered a stunning acapella version of “Kudzu,” before inviting William Fussell back to the stage for a rousing rendition of the late great Jerry Lee Lewis classic “Great Balls Of Fire” which got everyone dancing before heading out into the chilly November air.
There was a real sense of togetherness in the room throughout this show, both on the stage between Shires and her truly excellent band and between the audience and the artists. It’s a great thing when it happens and on the night it was simply fostered by the honesty and authenticity of Shires’ songwriting and personality. Listening to her songs and watching her perform, you get the feeling that Shires is that friend you’d go to when you need an honest opinion – the one who you know has your back but is going to tell you the truth whether you like what they have to say or not. Those people are few and far between and should be treasured. Shires, through her songwriting and performance, is telling the world exactly what she thinks, whether they like it or not. So, if you’re one of those that still think they’re never going to let her change that Nashville sound, we think you may be wrong – she’s doing it right now.
If Amanda is making a stop in your town, make sure to get out there, and listen to what she has to say. You will definitely not regret it.
Words by: Phil WaltonPhotos by: Kirstine Walton
AMANDA SHIRES
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