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Live:
Flaming June + Kandida
Cambridge Boat Race
27th February 2002.
It�s surprisingly pleasing what delights you can find dropping
into a music venue on the off chance, as was proved by my recent impromptu visit
to the Cambridge Boat race.
First up, Kandida. Fronted by Acoustic guitarist and
singer / songwriter Kandida Orbell, this trio struck an unusual stage image
being, as they were this night, without a Drummer. However, flanked by lead
guitarist Ed Kragh and a brand new bassist, who I later found had only practised
with the band for a matter of hours, the band delivered a very strong set of
energetic bitter-sweet songs that elicited a strong and favourable reaction from
the small but, none-the-less, attentive Boat Race audience.
I felt this reaction had more than the usual value as it was
evident after their set that the audience was not made up largely of family and
friends as is common for a band at this stage.
As for the music itself, I�m pleased to say it was difficult to
pigeon-hole. Certainly I detected an American, almost country feel but
this was only part of the recipe. The American influence was even slighter on
Kandida�s voice as she was singing 99% in an English accent; her lyrics were
both literate and clear.
The overall set was so strong in fact that I thought that their
performing without a drummer may have been part of a deliberate new direction.
Chatting to Kandida after their set I found that this situation was not of their
choosing and not only did they want a drummer but, �We want it all�.
During their half-hour set Flaming June did little less
than completely command the Boat Race stage. The bands own flyer described their
sound as, �Indie with a Celtic twist�. Personally I�d say there was more than a
twist, perhaps something like a very potent shot in this particular libation.
That�s no bad thing and the word potent is certainly applicable to every one of
the songs the band performed. �The Twister� was a particularly powerful number
that did what its title suggests; it left leave my head spinning.
Lead vocalist Louise Hamilton presented herself as a particularly
striking figure sporting a classic red Epiphone guitar co-ordinated with
matching dress and, yes, hair. But this lady is no screaming banshee. Her lyrics
are poetic in the extreme but there is tenderness here and humour to. During the
intro of the bands excellent �Jilted at the Altar� Hamilton delightfully threw
confetti over herself as sampled church bells peeled mockingly in the
background. But remember, there is always an edge with Flaming June and any girl
looking to catch this bouquet had better be wearing industrial strength
gardening gloves because this one�s made of razor wire!
Hamilton also displayed extreme coolness under fire when her
guitar strap disengaged only a couple of seconds into a song threatening to send
her guitar crashing disastrously to the stage. Hamilton coolly caught the
guitar, clipped it back in place and the band simply started the song all over
again. Who says we don�t have troopers like the old days anymore.
During the set I noted that Louise�s on stage banter showed her
speaking voice as being in very sharp contrast to her vocal style. Speaking to
her after the gig she openly admitted that she had no real Celtic background but
it was more than evident to me that her vocal accent is NOT an affectation. This
band are clearly playing the music that they love in the style that they love.
Kandida�s single �Bringing Me Down� was available from the Boat
Race and their website:
www.kandida.org which will also have details of future live dates.
Flaming June�s single �Rejoice� is out now, see
www.flamingjune.co.uk for more details.
Paul Wood
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