May 24, 2021

Concert Review: Julie Lamb Outfit, The Vic, Devonport 21 May 2021

The Julie Lamb Outfit play easy-listening Rock from the early days of FM radio, real DJ’s and American Top Forty. Music as comfortable as the pajamas’ some of the band are wearing. Great ensemble playing and packed with enough Soul, Funk and R’n’B to satisfy the most jaded palate.

Just as comfortable is The Vic theatre. However, the audience seem like they have been bussed in from the nearest aged-care facility. With extra doses of risperidone to keep their excitement level down. There is plenty of fire and Funk from the stage – but the patrons remain resolutely in their seats. All night.

Let Go and the band is off. A bright European Café Jazz number which belongs to keyboard player Shan Jordan. At once we get to hear that this band play in an expansive style that gives space to all the instruments. A horn section with a trombone! Frank Talbot on saxophone and Kali Barton on the ‘bone. They give a bit of Klezmer tone. Talbot solos on clarinet.

Rhythm section is Chris Fursdon bass and Giacomo Caleffi drums. Miranda Turner on backing and some lead vocals. Julie Lamb lead vocals and band-leader, looks a little like Christine McVie and does remind me of the English female leads of the Sixties with her voice.

Next is a surprisingly good cover of Peter Frampton’s I Wanna Go to the Sun. This allows lead guitar John O’Connor to play the first of several great guitar solos of the show. Seventies sunshine Pop with the horns adding some Jazz deep inside the mix.

Volume Control has Lamb on lead. Funk from the rhythm section and the feel is Dr John and New Orleans R’n’B out of Right Place, Wrong Time. Low tones from the guitar at first, then mixing it up with Rock and Funk riffs.

That is from the recent album How Humans Think. All the songs bar one are played tonight.

One of my favourites is Born With the Blues which doesn’t sound like Blues at all. A quirky Pop tune which mixes in Folk and Euro Jazz. Jordan’s vocals can reach those high tones like the early Kate Bush on Wuthering Heights, right down to the woo-hoo’s.

Hair Power is a real Urban Blues but that is the foundation as they throw in nice touches of Klezmer Jazz. The saxophone solo steals the show a little here.

The guitar tones from O’Connor and his lead breaks are outstanding all night. He supplies a brace of songs.

Arwen’s Song is soft and lyrical and sounds like the quieter Peter Green in the original Fleetwood Mac. I especially like the slightly fuzzed fat tones he manages to produce.

Paul’s Blues sounds exactly like the intro to Love That Burns. But it builds from there and you hear note-bending of the style of BB King and Clapton. Clean tones and a fantastic progression. The keyboards get in there and harmonises with the sound of strings. Quite stunning.

They kept this up for two sets and really, each song had its highlights. The venue has just over half-full which was a shame. It really deserved a bigger crowd and a floor full of shakers and swingers.

Age and Attitude is the brand-new single. On stage tonight it comes across as a great anthemic Jazz Pop tune without being excessive. The Horn section conjure up a Caldonian Soul sound reminiscent of the Seventies Van Morrison.

This Time I Won stood out as different to the rest. Sung by Jordan with piano and minimal backing. A Folk tune which curiously evoked sentiments of Richard and Linda Thompson. Especially Linda. I know that I was blinded by the sun/ So I ran faster.

More great covers.

Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al. With some Latin rhythms.

Amy Winehouse’s Valerie sounds like a Northern Soul classic in their hands. They put some Soul into Robbie Williams Let Me Entertain You. Lead vocals from Turner.

Shrug My Shoulders is their usual show closer. An R’n’B workout where everyone gets to solo. Nice fat guitar tones.

That’s the Julie Lamb Outfit. They are easy listening and they are great. Next time I see them I am sure the crowd will be swinging too.