Concert Review: Corinne Bailey Rae @ Gypsy Tea Room - 8/12/06

by Laura Seewoester

I went to the Corinne Bailey Rae show at the Gypsy Tea Room last Saturday, and I have to say it was fantastic. Even the two opening acts were great. Kevin Devine came on first, just him and his guitar in the usual singer-songwriter fashion (minus the stool). His music had feeling, and his lyrics are lyrics that you can actually listen and relate to as you hear them for the first time. Maybe it’s just because he sang about things that are important to me (war and peace, drinking beer with your dad, kids cussing), but I also found myself drawn to his bittersweet love songs. Devine also made sure to connect with the audience on an almost one-on-one level. He would catch your eye (or was it the guy behind me?) and sing to you for a minute, give an adorable little smirk, then scan the audience until he caught someone else’s eye. As cheesy and obvious as it sounds, I have to say that Kevin Devine was, well, divine.

The second performer was Gran Bel Fisher, and while his connection to the audience was a little cold, this guy has talent and this guy can rock. His style of music is somewhat absent from the current music scene, local and national, yet it holds that same familiar feel you get when listening to old-school rock from the sixties and early seventies. He entices the audience with his deep, unique voice, fluid piano and well-constructed lyrics. It’s the kind of free-spirited, wild child rock and roll that makes you want to lay naked in a field of tall yellow grass. In addition to his musical talent, I can’t leave out the obvious first impression: Fisher is one sexy rock star. I think in 90 seconds flat there was a little puddle of drool in my cleavage. There were women in the back screaming out about his hotness, it was insane. I have not been witness to such blatant sexiness since the time I met Lazer.

Finally, after much anticipation, Corinne Bailey Rae came out. She’s this adorable, petite woman with a voice that stands on it’s own. She sang her recently released album almost in its entirety. Just listening to the album, however, does not do her justice. Rae smiles when she sings as her arms dance around her body dictating every chord, every note. Every once in a while she would extend her hand forward until she finished a note, almost as if she was giving us the music. She sings to the audience, not at the audience, in a way comparable to Billie Holiday. One of the best parts of the show was when Rae sang Like A Star and everyone knew the words. She got this sort of surprised look on her face; I don’t think she expected that. And then, of course, as soon as she played Put Your Records On, the whole audience lit up, singing and dancing. I think Rae almost enjoyed watching us as much as we enjoyed watching her. After the show I got the feeling that one day I would be saying, “I saw her at this small venue back in the day.” Between her strong, sultry voice and just plain lovely demeanor, Corinne Bailey Rae lights up the stage much like a star.

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