THE HERALD
Beth Neilsen Chapman and Charlie Dore, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Stuart Morrison

Published on 26 Jan 2010

“I’m not as crazy as Lucinda Williams, but I do love her!” Beth Neilsen Chapman had been struggling with the technical gremlins all night which had rendered guitars out of tune, monitor levels awry and lyrics forgotten and, while this could have driven anyone crazy, it was overcome by the sheer force of her personality and the fact that when she did get started, some of her material was very fine indeed.

Her new album, Back To Love, had been released on the day of the show and some of the material was still being knocked into shape. But it marked a real return to form for an artist who has had more than her share of ups and downs, both artistically and personally.

She played most of it here with her band, supplemented by superb a string quartet, overcoming the nerves to give these songs real depth. Hallelujah, for example, was beautifully arranged, and Happiness, a song she started to write when receiving treatment for cancer in 2000 and was finally finished last year, displayed a joyfulness which belied its dark genesis.

Love featured heavily in her lyrics, whether it is lost, such as in the poignant Sand And Water, or found as in I Need You Love, from the new album, written for her husband to be. A packed Concert Hall lapped it up.

An honourable mention must go to Charlie Dore and her Hula Valley Orchestra, who opened the show with an entertaining mix of Django Reinhadt jazz and rockabilly.

Sponsored by Scottish Power

Star rating: ****