Support came from Norwegian singer Susanna, with a subtle piano style accompanied by equally minimal electric guitar Susanna has a really nice voice… but that was about it, nice and inoffensive, and opting for slowed down obvious covers in Joy Divisions “Love will Tear us Apart” and Michael Jacksons “Billy Jean”, I don’t think she was gaining the hearts of too many of the sold out Hackney Empire this evening.
Having been a mad rush from work I’m not disappointed then that we missed more covers in Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak” or what really sums up the obviousness of her set – Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”.
But let’s face it, tonight was all about the genius of Will Oldham, aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy.
Joined on stage by Ben Boye on Piano and auto harp, Emmett Kelly on secondary guitar/vocals and the beautiful backing vocals of Angel Olsen the Prince played through what’s possibly an early contender for gig of the year.
It was a good few songs in until we heard anything off the critically acclaimed new album Wolfroy Goes to Town and although with the likes of “No Match” and “Quail and Dumplings” not disappointing, this also shows the amount of back catalogue the great man has to choose from. Oldhams vocal style is incredibly naturally, although on the times when he stretches his voice to stress the emotions of the songs it’s just as passionate and beautiful.
Tracks such as the title track from “I See a Darkness” and “You Want That Picture” from Lie Down in the Light are compelling and received with much applause, as is the beautiful “You Will Miss me When I Burn”. For such a moving and emotional artist, the music is balanced perfectly against the in between song banter with stories of leaving the drugs behind before jumping on the channel tunnel, and how we’re all going to die on the 12th December 2012… but let’s hope that’s not the case for I look forward to more offerings from the great man…
…so having ended the show on a moving cover of Richard Farina’s “Pack up Your Sorrows” the past ninety minutes seemed to have gone all too quickly and it was soon time to pack up and leave the beautiful sounds of “Prince” Billy and friends behind, they had a train to catch up to Bonnie Scotland and if it wasn’t for numerous constraints it would have been tempting to follow them.
