Caitlin Smith was in fine and fiery form tonight as she scorched the historic church venue with her own songs and those of her spiritual sorceress mother.
Which is Joni Mitchell of course, and most in the audience would know that.
Caitlin is an idiosyncratic original herself. Definitely a Jazz singer with Folk leanings, a storyteller and poet. That would make her sophisticated Pop where all manner of spirit world dwellers enter, angels and demons.
Many of the originals are from a forthcoming album, The Long Game, already recorded and may even get a release soon.
Begins with The Truth and a scorching R’n’B to Soul vocal which is competing with heavy echo and low-end blurring from Smith’s keyboards. It takes a few songs for that to correct, or to acclimatise to.
Tell them the truth and it may have a connection to the classic Five Royales original written by Lowman Pauling, and memorably covered by Ray Charles. Swings in similar fashion.
There are biblical references and spiritual connections to be made with her songs. Here we are caged in chains/ We all live in the lion’s den.
Line in the Sand is a great black Gospel styled song with a few churchy yodels thrown in, and you can hear the accents of an Etta James, as we try to bracket the target. I am assuming the sudden vocal leap to the home on high is not just a male domain.
Playing with Smith tonight are Lance McNichol on guitar, who takes a perfect funky Soul break. Steve Cournane on drums is understated metronomic precision and picks up the tempo with judicious fills.
The first Mitchell song is Shine (2007) from her last studio album of the same name. There is anger and passion from the chanteuse. Lyrics are prescient and chilling regarding what transpired over the last four years. McNichol balances with warm guitar tones.
Shine on Frankenstein technologies/ Shine on science, with its tunnel vision/ Shine on bombs exploding/ Half a mile away. Strange that both Neil and Joni dropped the ball when Frankie finally came to pass.
If is Mitchell’s song set to the celebrated Rudyard Kipling poem. The trio work together to make this a highlight, with fluid George Benson styled guitar.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken/ Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. Or as Malcolm X admonished in his most punk sound bite if you cannot face the truth, you don’t deserve freedom.
The show tonight is a masterclass in lyrics with Smith sailing close to the bigger vessel with her own choice material.
The version of Woodstock which ends the first set is one that Smith makes her own, as in it’s my song now.
At the start of the show, Smith declares that these are songs she believes in, and you must be prepared to defend them in a cage fight. And fight dirty.
There also comes a time when you attack those Gods and Goddesses and steal essential elements of their soul.
Maybe that informs her song Gods and Stars. Shoulder to shoulder/ Side by side/ to the smallest cells. Otherwise, it remains opaque for now. Smith transitions to te reo halfway through. The guitar is close to playing Surf licks.
There is a moment to start the second set. Caitlin has made a stunning Marilyn costume change and sings Happy Birthday in erotic fashion. A worm hole has opened to the time of JFK. Encompassing politics, sex, power and libido, assassins who either hit or miss.
It is dedicated to Christine. But it does display the powerful zeitgeist currently in effect.
Follows immediately with Eighteen Stitches and her story about damaged people and fabricators.
Skeleton Keys and Gunslingers is an older song which addresses the issue of stalkers. Smith tells us she has had several over the years. At times she has performed this as fraught and empowered. Tonight, there is a level of peace which reflects walking towards the demon rather than away.
The most powerful practitioners are those who can turn all their enemies into friends. (William Burroughs).
The Truth About Us is similar in its personal storytelling. Alternative title Of Exes’ and Narcissists.
Both songs could be considered as Blues.
More choice Joni Mitchell covers. Hejira comes from the 1976 album which also has Coyote. A complex guitar intro and the drummer is playing a cajon (I think). The rhythm is king, and the singer has got this one in a submission move.
Granite markers/ Those tributes to finality, to eternity/ Then I looked at myself/ Chicken scratching for my immortality.
The Same Situation (from Court and Spark 1974) is Joni going full Pop and Caitlin sings with great vocal technique to wow us all.
Sophisticated Pop is also A Life Worth Living. With her phrasing this would make an ideal Dusty Springfield song.
So would concert closer The Long Game. Of course, it’s angels who play the long game as they are there to get you through that brief time you have, to burn. Fast and complex guitar licks, the drummer gives it some, and the singer is strong with an R’n’B’ swing.
The title of her coming album.
Caitlin Smith comes out of tonight’s cage fight, and we were in submission for most of the show. She just needs to break the hold.
Rev. Orange Peel
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