It has been almost a year since I reviewed Claire Anne Taylor’s Giving It Away (review here), and over 55 gigs later after touring mainland Australia, she and her band brought the album home to her Tasmanian base along with some surprise new tracks which have been written and road-tested while on the long haul around the country along with a couple of her classic tracks from previous albums.
A sold out crowd was treated to the brilliance that is Claire Anne and her band as they wound up a year of touring in spectacular fashion. Commencing in January with a series of album launch shows (see here for live review of Theatre Royal show) she and the band brought Giving It Away back to Hobart in a fitting nod to her beloved home state.
The intimacy of The Founders Room was not lost on the audience, and soundman Eric Jacques had the band sounding as epic as the music they were playing. The many hours on the road meant the band were almost completely in sync with each other, and once again showed why all of the players are highly esteemed amongst their peers.
The rhythm section of Louis Gill (bass/backing vocals) and Beau Thomas (drums/backing vocals) never missed a beat, whether it be through delicate tracks such as Before or the power of the driving If You Should See Sunshine.
Jethro Pickett’s guitar-playing on both the electric and lap-steel ices the cake on many of the songs while Randal Muir’s keyboard playing is always sublime throughout.
However great her band are, it is Claire Anne’s voice and song-writing that are the jewel in the crown of this show. Her gravelly tone is perfect for expressing the deep emotion which permeates much of her catalogue, while the ability to convey fragility, or conversely the power she can generate, is at times, spine-tingling.
If you have never seen this lady perform before, then it is time you did so, as the satisfaction levels after walking out from one of her gigs is always sky high.
Claire Anne Taylor Band Gallery: Click on images to see in full
The Kucera Brothers provided lovely support with their country/Americana feels.
Kucera Brothers Gallery: Click images to see in full
All images: ©fullonrockphotography/Andrew Fuller
