Review of Wallis Bird at Whelans on May 9th 2011
Review by Christof Dugarry
Photos: Abraham Tarrush
“Sonic landscapes and thunderstorms,”
Wallis Bird showcases her eccentric mannerisms intertwined with her faultless musical capabilities in her final stop of the acoustic tour.
Wallis Bird has always been agreeable to me. Nothing more, nothing less. I listened to her often when her album ‘spoons’ came out and then it descended among the iPod clutter that you frequently pass and never enter again. I mused a couple of months ago, that you never know the fate of an Irish artist and the Wallis Bird appeared to have the same fate of Emmet Tinley and the likes who have had really promising debut’s and then fall into the music oblivion that is the digital music landscape. That is what I had assumed had happened to our dear Ms. Bird (though she’d hate that formality). But how wrong Monday last would show that to be.
David Burke provided the nights support. I must say I am a tough critic of support acts, as I always have a preconception that the act is a friend of the band or a distant relation. But Burke was fantastic vocally, in a albeit highly saturated category. His song ‘beautiful mind’ was as good as I’ve heard live in recent memory. I’d mark this lad down as ‘keep your eye on,’ he may very well come good.
The mood was set for Wallis to enter stage left, but as ever not unassumingly but with the gentle hammer of a piano coupled with the more violent stirring of thunder. Wallis does what I respect among all great live acts, being nimble with their own material. Her first song was about seeing Jesus in a toilet door of a rented house, think what you will. But the melodies always suit her vocals and her imagery is simply expressed making it easier to comprehend yet distant enough to be considered insightful. After the first song, Bird proclaimed her set list open for requests. We got the complete compliment of Birds collection with all the classics with the appearances of all the popular songs from ‘Spoons’ and ‘New Boots’ with the added measure of impromptu mindless yet harmonious bopping by a very willing crowd. Wallis has a tremendous cult following, devout and receptive to every instruction.
While Wallis will claim she has gone ‘all Bob Dylan’ on her acoustic tour, it really suited the renditions of ‘Measuring Cities’ and ‘To My Bones’ which itself started with acoustic slower pace but eventually the verve and character of the artist took over. She is strong, completely impervious to the draws of materialism and all in all debaucheries amounts of fun. Her spontaneity has dexterity seeded in equal measure and I don’t mean she plays safe, but that her ability is matched by the versatility of that talent.
Her rendition of ‘Circles’ is the one that everyone in the crowd seemed to react most positively to, mind you it was tough one to judge. I think the conversation with a crowd member’s friend on a mobile from Australia, epitomises the person. There are a lot of artists, domestic and abroad, who in that venue would ignore the pleas of fans, particularly with such a ferocious faction that is her fan base, but she handled it with the witticism and warmth as a friend of a friend. The gig came to its conclusion with the absolute haunting rendition of “In Dictum,” unplugged and in amongst her crowd. It’s a rare and beautiful site to see someone trust a crowd to such an extent, trust the power of her voice and the song that she is singing to carry as well. It is a move I sometimes consider indulgent, but the entire crowd were completely consumed. A breathtaking rendition. All considered this is my gig 2011 thus far, for pure unadulterated talent, performance and showwomanship. A tremendous live artist who’s upcoming instalment is eagerly awaited.