Trembling Bells: Alex Neilson (drums), Lavinia Blackwell (vocals/keyboard), Mike Hastings (guitar), Simon Shaw (bass)
Rachel and Becky Unthank are the Northumbrian sister singers of the eponymous band, The Unthanks. While they sound as though they have been singing since they were born, the band has only been in existence since 2004 and is now a 10 piece ensemble with several successful CDs behind them and a new one just out.
This is my first live concert by the Unthanks, although I have heard them on the radio and seen them on TV, particularly enjoying their recent programme about English folk dancing.
This may have given an impression that the pace of music would have been more varied to accommodate dancing. One sister, Rachel, being heavily pregnant maybe dictated that pace although pianist Adrian McNally told us ‘the tour was in the book before the was bun in the oven’! There was some steady sassy clog dancing by soon-to-be-auntie Becky that appropriately was at a good pace for the rocking of a babby.
The singers use their own NE English dialect – no faux mid Atlantic here which is always a bonus in my book – and their music is plaintive, melodic, harmonic and beautifully sad.
The variety of instruments in the band is used to fine effect with full gorgeous string orchestration when demanded and the poignancy of the peculiarly North English sound of the solo trumpet played by Lizzie Jones, the accordion strains that never fail to move or the brief appearance of the marvellous ukulele for the song, Harlow Hill.
The rest of the repertoire included traditional songs like Gang tae the Kye and It’s a Weary Weary Life that sound familiar to a Scots audience (similar words of the latter being carved on the Water of Leith Walkway near the Shore), Geordie songs and a Robert Wyatt lullaby.
Rachel and Becky recently took part in the Tyneside Cinema Project where their voices accompanied footage with a song Great Northern River. Their renditionon Friday night allowed the fine and very different voices of Becky, sounding as if hers was coated with dark honey, and Rachel, clear, mature and bell-like, to be heard purely.
The support band was Trembling Bells, a 4-piece with a rock formation but singing folk. The singer, Lavinia Blackwell, was dressed in Mary Hopkins style, giving the band a 70s throwback look.
She has a strong haunting voice but the accompanying music was a mismatch with her voice being drowned out by a loud drummer, who even was too loud with brushes when he stood in for one song for the Unthanks. She sounded better alone on keyboard and would shine more with acoustic accompaniment.
They are clearly good musicians but the sum of the parts did not work. It sounded like gilding the lily. Unlike the headline act, there was no chat or explanation about the songs and one instrumental sounded as though needle was stuck on a record - too loud and too long. As no running order was provided I have no idea what they sang.
The sound of one hand clapping is not so intriguing when being done on the pews of the Queen’s Hall after every song, making me feel we had Woody Woodpecker as an audience member, but was an indication of the audience enthusiasm.
The Unthanks are old fashioned yet modern, traditional and sassy all at once. The female members of the band are well turned out in lovely feminine frocks and the guys smart and stylish. The music is paramount, but sartorial consciousness gives respect to the audience too. They are a pleasure to look at and listen to, especially the sound of these Northumbrian clogs!
Touring till 19the April