LIVE REVIEW: MY GIRL THE RIVER - THE HALF MOON - PUTNEY
Having previously only ever seen My Girl The River play as a duo before, one question nagging away on the journey to the Half Moon was, how would they be able to create the sound of their fabulous new album "Manifest Good Things" with only two musicians? Fortunately we needn't have worried, for not only would they be appearing as a five piece, but at least three musicians that played on the record would be in attendance. On stage, a large backdrop. covered one side of the stage, advertising the new album, as did the drummers bass drum, no-one was going to leave unaware of the new release! Each table was also mysteriously dressed with a star!
Things would start with "Everywhere You Go", and immediately you could feel that this was going to be a sympathetic band, with two doubling on backing vocals, the drummer using brushes for the quieter numbers, and there just being an overall sense of space within which to create their sound. Fronting the ensemble Kris Wilkinson Hughes, steadfastly determined to ensure that everyone had a good time, and clearly, rightfully proud of the record she had produced. Her vocals had a welcoming warmth on this most gentle openers.
It was not all about the new record though, "Information Highway" from the previous album "Songs About Space", reminded us about the internet's original name.
It was only at this point that we realised that all band members of the band were sporting bright orange t shirts. The band would prove themselves to be equally adept whether playing at lower volume, or as on this track, increasing in sound levels throughout, until the song was almost anthemic. From the same album came "Helpless", written by Kris during covid, while witnessing her teenagers struggle, with no support or structure. It would be Kris who would take the open verse solo, and the frustrations were evident in her delivery.
"I feel helpless, I want to kiss you tears and spit them down into the river and let them flow away"
The sound would slowly, yet effortlessly build, never in danger of overpowering, really letting the message hit home.
A drum beat would begin, the stage lights would be turned off for "Breadcrumbs On The Water" as Kris urged us to hold up and wave our stars and to concentrate on what we are currently "Manifesting". The sound became a little trippy, the t shirts, along Kris's fingernails all shone brightly in the darkened room. There would also be a call and response section on this most hypnotic of songs. For four minutes, we were transported.
"Teenage Geek" took us on a trip through Kris's teenage years, with the percussion and keyboards setting the scene and Kris visibly reliving the moments described, "Play me records loud!". There was a definite anthemic feel as the band sound combined with the backing vocals, swelling the overall sound.
The band would be dispensed with for one song as Kris would play solo. Her song "Where Does The Rain Come From?" came with a moving 9/11 dedication. It would play out to the gentlest of strums, occasionally Kris's left hand would not even hold the guitar at all. Naturally this was played out to pin drop silence which let the audience focus on every syllable.
The band were restored, though with the keyboard player temporarily switched to playing an additional guitar, for "Won't Find Our Bones", dedicated to "greedy billionaire bastards". A more beefier sound with a Steely Dan guitar sound from Steve Lee, powerful backing vocals and Kris's lead, soaring over the top of the band, this was another statement piece for sure. Introducing "Solitaire" as being about "the difficult relationship some people can have with alcohol", it would see the band each majorly contribute to the sound, with vocals as well their playing seemingly making a sound much greater than the individual parts added together.
A real tour de force on the night came with "Without You", described as a sweet little love song, a song so perfect it just exuded good feelings. For "Living You Life ( Everything Is Alright)" there would be a degree of singing and hand dancing of sorts from the audience as the band turned a little funky! The weight of "Heavy" would show the power of three vocals singing simultaneously, in this magnificent piece of pop, with a message.
The evening would close out with "Up The Mountain", a rocking finale, from Steve's opening guitar intro, through to the Half Moon fully clapping along, this was surely the manifestation of a great evening out.
