With a close to capacity crowd waiting, Elles Bailey takes to the stage to introduce the support act. Bailey proudly states that she handpicks who supports her and then introduces Demi Marinner and her band on to the stage.
You just know that the support act is going to good when the headliner pops out to watch them perform. Marinner, decked out in a cowboy hat and sparkly dress, launches into `Sins’. Her strong, soulful voice and acoustic guitar abilities get the night off to a great start.
Following up with `Distorted Desires’ that has a distinctly Fleetwood Mac flavour, the band around her a tight and strong too. She zooms through `Need To Know’, `Think Of Me’, `Sound The Alarm’ and `Last Summer’ before ending on the slide guitar rocker, `Good Guy Act’ which was a fine way to end a storming set.
Of course, isn’t the last we will see of Marinner or her warm, potent voice as she is also Elles Bailey’s backing vocalist!
After a short interlude, Elles Bailey and her band hit the stage. With a flowing sixties influenced blouse, leather skirt and sparkly long boots she launches into The upbeat crowd pleaser `Enjoy The Ride’. A brief pause to sing the praises of Demi Marinner follows before Bailey moves into `Leave A Light On’.
The truly beautiful `1972’ comes next and sees Joe Wilkins brilliant, understated blues guitar playing standing out. Bailey declares her love of Devon as a place where she loves to return to and has recorded several records in the county.
When I Go Away’ the chugging, soul infused rocker is up next and it’s clear that Bailey and her band are on fire and having a real blast.
`Silhouette In A Sunset’ takes brings the pace down a little and sees Johnny Henderson’s keyboard playing coming to the fore. Demi Marinner takes up the acoustic guitar as Wilkins tremolo lead lines introduce `Hell Or High Water’. Bailey’s warm, husky vocal here is a real crowd pleaser.
Hole In My Pocket’ grinds its groovy bluesy way along ahead of `Medicine Man’ replete with Hendersons wailing Hammond organ sounds and Wilkins letting rip with a blistering guitar solo. Bailey may be the focus of the band, but she always makes sure every member of the outfit gets a good chunk of the limelight.
Bailey’s command of the stage is what draws the audience in. Whether she is blasting out an intense vocal, throwing shapes mid song, or showing her abilities on the keyboard, she still remains grounded and relatable to the crowd.
`What’s The Matter With You’ smoulders its way along before the Motown flavoured `Love Yourself’ get the crowd bouncing. `Truth Ain’t Gonna Save Us’ follows before Bailey takes up position next to Henderson for keyboard duties on `Let It Burn’.
Wilkins guitar blows the roof off here with a powerful solo. `The Game’ raising the stakes as to pace increases and the whole band gels tightly and Bailey’s voice lights up the place.
`If This Is Love’ preludes `Riding The Storm’ which sees the whole band rocking at their absolute peak. Can things get any better? Well, an encore of `Turn Off The News’ followed by an off the scale show closer of the John Lee Hooker Style track, `Sunset City’ that includes Marinner doing a solo vocal, answers that question, leaving a highly appreciative crowd feeling fully satisfied.
Elles Bailey’s `Beneath The Neon Glow’ tour sees Bailey reaping the benefits of exposure as a DJ on Planet Rock bringing in new fans, but it also sees her at her strongest point in her career with an armoury of brilliant albums and the latest riding high in the charts. Bailey was on fire tonight as were here superb band. The only way is up for the enigma that is Elles Bailey.
Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
Photos by Heather Coleman for MPM
