Joanne Shaw Taylor , Ferris & Sylvester – The Barbican, York – 17th February 2024
JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
It’s not long since we caught Joanne Shaw Taylor in Manchester, but in the interim, there’s a new album – Black & Gold – and a handful of UK dates which is as good an excuse as any to hook back up to JST in what she declares one of (if not the) favourite city of hers in the UK (with apologies to Wolverhampton). Not all all earned by the plethora of Harry Potter shops down The Shambles…
She’s also had the testimonial with support Issy & Archie declaring “What a rock star she is,” but I guess we all know that already. So much so that she’s in the same league as those who have their own carpet/rug as part of her stage set up. One she strides to as she joins her band onstage, decked out in the obligatory denim (of which there’s an abundance onstage tonight). A coloured scarf flows from her hip, buffeted now and then by the strategically placed fan and with long silver flash adorning her flares, she lives up to the billing.
BLUES AHOY
There’s no messing around as the Stones intro music fades, she plugs in the curly guitar lead and launches into her standard opener from the Fleetwood Mac library that allows the whole quartet a chance to warm up. Cobwebs blown away, the new album has Hell Of A Good Time contributing to an opening flurry that heads towards her verison of The Fabulous Thunderbirds Two Time My Lovin’. The Blues (and her The Blues Album) certainly getting dusted off early doors. Tapping a silver tipped toe onto a foot pedal, the solo heds into overdrive while the deft swing and friendly vibe of the latter has a nearby voice declaring in a stage whisper how “that was a bit Shania.”
Perhaps she’s aware and heads into an absolutely storming Dyin’ To Know where the combination of bottle neck and extremely deft finger picking leads into a tremendous groove for Joanne to solo over. The setlist following a trend that sees the broody and the moody balanced against the sheer power and frantic tempos which get pushed to the limits. She takes a brief moment for little rants about being duped into video shoots with idol Kevin Costner and plugs the T shirt on sale that’s both her design and features multiple images of her dog Hank – all very cute and a brief glimpse into the private side of JST. Meanwhile, having parked the thought she leaves us to the sound of Grayer Shade Of Blue and ponder the vision of Joanne accompanied by KC in a wild west dustbowl love story video…
WANNA BE MY LOVER MAN?
Look What I’ve Become is the big production number of the set. The dah-dah-da-dah riff and moody delivery even suggesting the elevation to Bond theme status. All in a very 2025 Shirley Bassey sort of way complete with epic – some might say apocalyptic – final. One of those moments that fits the ‘worth the ticket price alone’ comments. While Gershwin’s Summertime (with thanks to Kevin Shirley) brings the mood down, the tempos are definitely up and the thrill moments are back again with the sharp funk of Wanna Be My Lover. Minus the dance moves of the video, there may have even been a second or two where the riff threatens to edge into Zep’s Rock And Roll – I almost found myself joining in around the ‘lonely, lonely, lonely’ section.
A second wind or a shot of something refreshing from the drinks flask sees Black Magic and the extended grooving on Watch ‘Em Burn once again warm the cockles with some stirring tribal and primal outpourings. As opposed to the more emotionally draining slower tempo songs in the set, these heavier numbers, for wont of a better one, no phrase is more suitable than kick some ass.
They also confirm how the partnership with Joe Bonamassa and his label is a perfect match. A couple of names and a combo that has them marked as a pair of pretty smart cookies. A tad more than just a Harry Potter obsessed, canine lover. To steal unashamedly from her own song, Joanne Shaw Taylor (and a rather decent band it should be noted) enjoys and delivers a hell of a good time.
FERRIS & SYLVESTER
It’s not been long either since (Issy) Ferris and (Archie) Sylvester were literally down the road, selling out and rocking out the Fulford Arms. “A proper Rock and Roll venue, says Archie, quickly adding, “as is this tonight.” They have a half hour to showcase a couple of album’s worth of material so are straight away bringing the Barbican into clapping along as some scuzzy riffing and talk of the drive to the dark side sets the scene for their set.
Archie busies himself with not just guitar but performs all manner of toe and heel combos to add percussion as the duo soon strip things right back – “totally” even to acoustic guitar and single vocal mic for Flying Visit. It’s probably the most intimate moment of the evening as the finale offers a delicately done weaving between the duo on their vocal lines. By contrast, they end with Lucky Night where the bluesy licks provide an apt segues into what;s tom come.
Doors opened to a new artiste, the ATB mantra of ‘always see the support band’ pays off once more.
All photography by Andy Pountney (Event Photography Awards Winner 2024 and 2025). You can check out more of his work on shot_in_the_dark_photography2 on Instagram.
Joanne Shaw Taylor online: Website / Facebook / X – formerly Twitter / Instagram / Youtube
Ferris & Sylvester online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Youtube
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