The new autumn season at the Queens Hall opened with a blinder, with an outstanding performance from Welsh Music Industry winner of best female artist (two years running) - Amy Wadge, and the perfect support band - Persona B.
Milford Haven's Persona B are a new band. New, but familiar, as two of their members, drummer Tim, and guitarist/vocalist and band vortex Alex, were part of the highly respected and much-loved Jylt.
Persona B played a phenomenal, emotionally-charged set that was unashamedly melodic, admirably tight, and complex and catchy in equal measure.
At times a bit folk-rock, at times a bit power-pop and with some brilliant re-imaging of the classic Jylt sound, it was always a bit special; packed full of proper songs with substance and dynamics, and with vocals very much at the centre of the mix.
Building up from the folk acoustic style of 3-4-1 to the impassioned power rock of Same Direction Down, Persona B shone with a natural brilliance as they conjured new spirits out of old spells.
Amy Wadge blew us away. Performing tonight with two world class musicians, Aled Richards (drums, formerly of Catatonia) and bassist and producer Dave Bronze (who has played with two legendary Erics - Bibb and Clapton). Amy veered towards the rock end of the folk spectrum; as she says herself, she's 'more folk 'n' roll'.
Her songs are sometimes unexpected, sometimes infinitely sad, but always wonderful; full of clarity, intelligence and passion, and delivered with an unaffected charm, resulting in an exceptional level of emotional engagement with her audience.
Many of her songs fall into the tender, textured acoustic folk arena full of sweet yearning, but her voice also has a raw, gutsy quality and sometimes she just opens up her throat and bawls.
She sings of family and friends, producing a palette of happy and sad moments, and she is able to marry plucked folk longing with sing-along melodies and a hard-edged band sound, on songs such as Valley Boy and Hallelujah.
Amy Wadge is most definitely an artist of substance and a major talent. And with Hubert Matthias waving his magic wand over the Queens Hall sound desk, this has to be a Lipstick Award contender for gig of the year.
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