LIVE REVIEW: COUNTRY CALLING 2025 - THE HOMESTEAD STAGE - MAYA LANE
Bringing something a little different to Country Calling was Maya Lane, a timeless blend of folk pop, Americana and country had a timeless vibe to it. With her only musicial assistance coming from Jack who would be both guitarist / drummer and when required also providing backing vocals.
Things would open with the folky upbeat "Beyond Alaska", with Jack providing both guitar and stomp pedal backing.
Maya would immediately start building a rapport with the crowd by giving them a chiding for a their lukewarm response to her initial "How are you?" request.
Her second song "Cherry Stains and Dumb Flings", matched a Stevie Nicks style of verse delivery, to a dreamy 60's chorus with Maya providing a delightful high pitched melody.
Not wasting a moment, there was an immediate 1-2-3-4 count into "Never Be Enough" for which the guitar, stomp pedal combo met with Maya's "Ooohs" to create the initial sound.
With more of a folky feel, it came crammed full of hooks and a definite intensity at the bridge as Maya stressed
"All my hope and all my truth
All my tears won't dry for you
All those dreams you painted blue
They will never be enough for you"
The closing section with both vocals entwining topped things off and made this another stand out song in a high quality set.
Things started a little funky with "Screw You" with the introduction of a bass guitar, moving into an upbeat pop chorus where Maya seemed to relish the chance to repeatedly say "Screw You"! The song for single folk "I Don't Know You Yet" had a delicate feel to it, once more full of hooks and with Maya throwing in some extended notes towards the end where repeated lines of the title, delightfully extending the word "Yet".
A deconstructed, country version of "Dancing Queen" managed to get the audience dancing, and singing. Maya would once more give her vocals free reign to soar on this version that invoked the joy of the original just in a more country folky format.
Things would speed up for "Four Leaf Clover" another joyful song with its
"Say a little prayer for me" chorus
which would later turn into a joyful audience clapathon.
The perils of not respecting Maya's private time and space, resulted in becoming the subject of a song in "Guys Like You". A pithy deserving put down to an unrequited approach.
The twin guitar approach would work well on "Don't Give Up On Me", another upbeat pop tune, with the closing section speeding up assisted by the stomp pedal to drive the frantic pace.
Given the reduced numbers of performers on stage, a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" seemed unlikely. It did seem to help clear the clouds and by the end, the bright sun was once more beating down. It was a spirited version with Maya's vocals shining and it later became a very tuneful piece of crowd participation, even if we had to forgo the Lindsay Buckingham electric guitar solo.
Maya's final song was the fast paced revenge song "A Heart For A Heart" with its ominous chorus
"You said you loved me, it seemed way too easy
To stop my heart, oh, I barely survived
Oh, history's repeating, another love leaving
Oh, this time you won't make it out alive"
It all made for a highly entertaining extended set from Maya, who previously #TEAMw21 had only seen at songwriters rounds and shorter support slots.
This really was a great taster for her full band tour which will heading out on the road during September, and on the basis of today will be more than worth a visit.
