Concert Review: Georgia Lines and Alex James, Freida Margolis, 28 November 2020

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Two talented musicians, Georgia Lines and Alex James perform a set each of their own music, scattered with a few stand-out renditions of classic songs. Indie Folk to Soul Jazz and colourings from all points between.

The first time I have been to Freida Margolis. For many years this was my family butcher and possibly the only fully organic one in New Zealand. It still has that same atmosphere, with tiles on the wall, the old original ceiling and some butchers’ hooks scattered around. Look hard enough. Now perfect as a small neighbourhood bar and lounge, even though I had a mysterious urge for some pork sausages. Those conditioned reflexes.

Haven’t got here till now because most shows get sold out. It is very much the small intimate corner shop.

Alex James is Alex Farrell-Davey, co-founder of Alae. A trio of Folkies who in a short space of time have developed a strong New Zealand support base. They have supported the likes of Hollie Smith and Anna Coddington.

Glad the confusion was sorted out and we weren’t watching the bass guitarist from Blur.

James is solo and acoustic tonight. Immediately it is easy to see why he has a good rep. On Hit Me Where it Hurts he has a good melancholic Folk voice. Some affectation and angst with a delicacy of touch sounding a little like Jeff Buckley.

Frozen in LA is more Pop. A reflection on life in a city where it never rains and the sun always shines. Subdued and with a definite Paul Simon early Seventies swing.

Meeting his father at age 17 is the background to Back in Town. This song amply demonstrates his versatility and talent as a voice. Daddy was a good man, he just had other plans/ The last thing on his mind was family. He starts with a familiar Country cadence but soon stretches out with soulful high notes and an emotional delivery.

It’s the Night Time from Josh Rouse. Roots Americana with a melancholy air and Country Soul accents.

Bailey Wiley is introduced to the microphone for a song called Please. A diminutive young woman even shorter than Alex. Surprise when she sings. A Black Soul voice, slightly pleading like Carla Thomas.

Alex does a version of Bill Wither’s Ain’t No Sunshine. He does it slower and really comes down on the song’s soulfulness. Then adds a bit of Erykah Badu. Tell him to come over and get your shit.

Has vocal pyrotechnics on last two songs Home and Shotgun. An impressive set.

Georgia Lines lives and performs in Tauranga. She has been immersed in music at an early age from theory to practise. She has a powerful Soul voice and demonstrated this to brilliant effect on two covers.

Don’t Dream It’s Over from Neil Finn. I Say a Little Prayer from Aretha via Bacharach and David. Both songs take off in flight. Emotive but superbly controlled. Gospel touches on Dream. White Soul at its best on Prayer.

They are the set closers but the remarkable thing is they don’t overshadow her own songs which are all the rest. Eight songs.

She sings Soul with a level of sophistication. Like Never Had Love. Sung with sincerity and swings nicely with light Jazz touches. Dusty or Dionne.

Same Thing has her stretching out and laying into a great sustained high note.

Alex is brought back to the mic for a duet they wrote. Moon Soda. A nice torch song and they both display their excellent chops on this.

Georgia has a very relaxed easy nature on stage and an infectious sense of fun. A great joke which I won’t reveal as this may be part of her stage banter. She tells us the story behind My Love. How she came to stalk her ex-boyfriend. Why don’t you leave me alone? / You’re someone I can’t live without. They have been married for one year.

I had not seen her before. I had heard she was good. In truth I was more than a little knocked out by her voice and talent.

Rev Orange Peel

NB: Okay then. What do you call a guy with no shins?     Tony.

Click on image to view a full size gallery of photos by Rachel Webb

Georgia Lines

Alex James

Rev Orange Peel
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