Mark Lanegan‘s rich raspy baritone, and the excellent acoustics of the Queen Elizabeth Hall went hand in glove last night at his stripped down performance for James Lavelle’s Meltdown Festival. For the most part only accompanied by the versatile skills of guitarist Jeff Fielder, Lanegan worked his way through an impressive back catalogue of solo work, and the odd cover from his Imitations album.
Perhaps more well known for his extensive collaborations with the Queens of the Stone Age, his solo work drives a more direct darker furrow, leaning on classic song writing, and filled with the lonely, the lost and whiskey blind outsiders. Songs that aren’t so much performed, as exhumed and caressed into life. A slow tempo, and a thick heavy atmosphere gives every work the respect it deserves. But there is light among the graveyard too – ‘One Hundred Days’ is an achingly beautiful ballad of hope for redemption, his version of Nancy Sinatra‘s ‘You Only Live Twice’ seems to nod at second chances too.
Hanging onto the microphone stand throughout and with a limited interaction with the audience, Lanegan isn’t one for over the top showmanship. Maybe he just wants to do his songs justice, in the most direct and honest way possible.
If that’s the case, job done Sir.
Setlist:
Judgement Time
Cherry tree carol
One way street
Don’t forget me
Where the twain shall meet
Gravediggers Song
Phantasmagoria blues
Can’t catch the train
Mack the knife
You only live twice
Lonely street
I am the wolf
One hundred Days
The Wild People
On Jesus Program
(Encore)
Bombed
Wildflowers
Halo of Ashes
James Lavelle’s Meltdown continues at the South Bank
More Information can be found here
More photos here
All photos by www.markwilliamsphotography.com
