The Claire Cameron Band - Live review by Ruth Ayris

Photo (C) Annelie Rosencrantz

As I meandered down the stairs of the 100 Club I felt the heat rising and felt the bass thumping from below. I was back to see the Claire Cameron Band launch their EP ‘Time Will Tell’ almost a year after I first saw them at this very venue.

 After a lengthy wait, Claire and her band took to the stage to tremendous applause, and dove straight into ‘Love of You’ (also the first track on the EP)

A sweet tune ‘Love of you’ is a great choice to open with, perfectly showcasing the bands tender, but raw edge. The lyrics tell a story of obvious heart ache that Claire sings beautifully.

‘Amethyst’ with its melodic undertones is next, a fine follow up. The audience is really beginning to loosen up, and I notice the numbers growing by the second. The beautiful polyphony of the music binds the audience together with the band on stage.

Photo (C) Annelie Rosencrantz

Next on the set list is the funkier ‘Spinning tops’. During this song, drummer, Jim Gaylard really came into his own and really impressed with his tight beats. The whole band really have a sense of closeness, they have definitely grown since the last time I saw them.

‘Black Albatross’ - a piano heavy song mellowed the mood a little with Claire’s porcelain doll face sensually singing out the elegy. The crowd swayed in time as Claire slunk across the stage to dance with bassist Mike James.

‘Question every day’ is most definitely the highlight of the set, beginning the song by thanking everyone for coming, the band sensually swayed throughout the whole song, removing her fascinator and setting the crowd on edge with raw, languid vocals and almost metal like guitar riffs, and ending with an absorbing guitar solo.

Photo (C) Annelie Rosencrantz

Concluding the gig was ‘Exposition’ a rather darker, heavier track, to which the crowd clapped along to for its entirety. A perfect end to a successful gig, the acapella ending absolutely left the audience craving more, who were screaming so by the end. Claire simply replied to the hungry crowd ‘you’ll have to buy the CD if you want to hear more tonight’ and with a gracious bow, was gone.

Photo (C) Annelie Rosencrantz