Bywater Call/Star Dame –
Corporation, Sheffield, Friday 13th October, 2023
Another one of those happenings that we all look forward to... yep the often eventful Friday night, the tonight not being an exception since we are here at the Corp to take in another cooked up rock show. First up we get the alt. proto-punk, left of centre, avant-garde almost experimental stylings of Star Dame.
Lithuanian born, Marija Cons fronts the duo on guitar with Dave on both drums and a mini keyboard! Imagine Royal Blood turned inside out 'n' back to front then reinvented in a tight but ramshackled way with wails, screams and straight vocals in English but in her own tone. F*ck comprising... why should she?
Knocking out some mind bending numbers that take you on a confusing musical roller-coaster, Star Dame prove you can do it how you choose and still get the crowd to move. They are a weird choice as support tonight but go at it with numbers old and new, puzzling a few and making a few new fans in the process. "What will it be like tomorrow?" Marija asks us.... who knows but Friday night Is alright for me.
Setlist: Bring It Back/Ties that Bind/Sweet Maria/Love The One You're With/For All We Know/Talking Backwards/Falls Away/Sign of Peace/After All/Arizona/Silver Lining/Fortune/As If/The Weight/Left Behind.
The headliners tonight come all the way from Toronto, Canada last were last seen here a few months ago in duo form as the support to Robert Jon and the Wreck. Now with the full band In tow they fully fill the small room stage with a healthy capacity crowd in here to match.
It's a 2 hour show of marvellous Americana..... I.e. a good mix of Country, Blues, Gospel, Southern Rock and a bit of west coast added for extra trimmings. Man that lady, Meghan Parnell can seriously sing, bellowing it out in perfect pitch and hitting every note... immense with the band having so much emotion, feeling and colour to their sound.
Highlights of the set included the opening warm soul of 'Bring It Back' the definitely warmed up this lady's vocal chords immediately; the sweet and beautifully building, tranquil southern-feel of 'For All We Know' that has some gorgeous slide guitar and brass-work in there.
Other notable numbers were the Rich Robinson meets Duane Allman meets Stax Groove of 'Falls Away' There there was the New Orleans vibe of 'Sign Of Peace'; the stuck in your head greatness of 'Silver Lining'; the contemporary statement of a power-ballad that is Fortune'.
Throwing a couple of covers in too like a bit of CSN (Love The One You're With) and The Band (The Weight) which their own songs match. It was lovely to hear a horn section too that is rarely seen in steel city on a stage this size... Each member was given a solo section, no doubt giving Meghan a break with the unison of bass and drums...
Many songs were long drawn out epics with 14 songs in all in the set with a 1 song encore of a jammed out gem that is 'Left Behind'. As soon as they were done they were out to meet the crowd who graced them with cds and albums to sign plus a photo or two and a chat as well!
Brilliant and welcome back anytime!
By Glenn Milligan