Chantel McGregor
Thursday 17th September 2015
100 Club, London United Kingdom
A quick howl of feedback and McGregor is churning into her opening number, spinning into an oriental-tinged wah wah run before long before striking back to the evil, thunderous riff. Anyone new to her act and wondering whether the very feminine blonde performer will cut it is duly punished for their doubts.
From this point we are treated to the very electric driving Chantel sound mixed with a solo acoustic interlude and some slow-burn electric pastoral moments, showing what I would call her Trowerish side and is always utterly captivating. Unafraid to let a note hang in the air or to drop the volume, McGregor is at her best letting the music float by, no need to hit us with torrents of notes all the time. This is marred only by the droning conversations of the horrible Loud Fat Bearded Blokes who come to blues and rock shows to talk to their mates about their lawnmowers and holidays rather than show any respect for the performers.
Why don’t these oafs at least keep away from the stage if they have to be rude? The guy who runs the 606 club down in Chelsea insists before each show that those wishing to chat should go through to the back bar, quite right too. Every venue should.
McGregor has a fine line in the Billy Gibbons pinched-note solos when needed but her moody arpeggio chording shows musical knowledge and tastes far beyond the shuffle and stomp modes some acts rely upon. The band’s cymbal washes and ominous bass lines give a cool dynamic, though some jazzier inflections would sometimes be welcome…I’m thinking ‘Up from The Skies’ maybe. Because this voice is strong but tender and steers away from imitating female black singers, too, most of the time. ‘Southern Belle’ is a meaty effort with a twist in the descend. ‘Lose Control’ has a Groundhogs timbre, all bounce and power.
Robin’s ’Daydream’ is given a long and subtle workout, with dirt-edged sustain and a lovely vocal, exploring every part of the song’s atmosphere. The acoustic ‘Anaesthetise’ and ‘Home’ takes us the audience somewhere else, elegaic delivery and fine playing and almost in Vega/Nyro territory. Keith and Colin are back for the rest of the set, ‘Take Power’ and its snaky riffing icing the aural cake.
Pete Sargeant
Chantel McGregor’s new album ‘Lose Control’ is out now on her independent boutique label Tis Rock Music. In addition, Chantel will be touring the UK extensively in 2015/2016 with her ‘Lose Control’ tour at the following venues:
Ripley, Town Hall
Saturday 12th December 2015
Tickets: £15.00
http://ripleylive.com
Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AX
Newcastle, The Cluny
Sunday 13th December 2015
Box Office: 0191 230 4474
Tickets: £13.00
www.thecluny.com
36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2PQ
Morecambe, The Platform
Monday 14th December 2015
Box Office: 01472 349222
Tickets: £13.00
www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform/
Old Station Buildings, Marine Rd W, Morecambe LA4 4DB
Leeds, The Brudenell
Tuesday 15th December 2015
Box Office: 0113 245 5570
Tickets: £13.00
www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk
33 Queens Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1NY
Bristol, The Tunnels
Wednesday 16th December 2015
Box Office: 0845 6050255
Tickets: £12.00
www.thetunnelsbristol.co.uk
Arches 31 & 32, Bristol & Exeter Mews, Lower Station Approach Road,
Temple Meads, Bristol, BS1 6QF
Derby, The Flowerpot
Thursday 17th December 2015
Box Office: 01332 834438
Tickets: £13.00
www.rawpromo.co.uk
25, King Street, Derby, DE1 3DZ
Sedgefield. Parish Hall
Friday 15th January 2016
Tickets: £14.00
http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#CHANTEL-McGREGOR-TOUR
Front St, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland TS21 3AT
Dorking, Dorking Halls
Friday 5th February 2016
Box Office: 01306 881717
Tickets: £15.50 (adv)/£17.50
http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/
Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SG
Harpenden. Harpenden Public Halls
Friday 12th February 2016
Box Office: 01582 762880
Tickets: £14.00 (adv)/£16.00
http://www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk/
Southdown Rd, Harpenden AL5 1PD
Bingley, Bingley Arts Centre
Saturday 13th February 2016
Box Office: 01274 431576
Tickets: £15.00
http://www.bingleyartscentre.co.uk/
Main St, Bingley BD16 2LZ
London, Jazz Cafe
Wednesday 16th March 2016
Box Office: 0844 847 2514
Tickets: £14.00
5 Parkway, London NW1 7PG
Southampton, Talking Heads
Thursday 17th March 2016
Box Office: 023 8067 8446
Tickets: £14.00
http://talkingheads.vticket.co.uk/
320 Portswood Rd, Southampton SO17 2TD
Clitheroe, The Grand
Saturday 19th March 2016
Box Office: 01200 421599
Tickets: £14.00
http://www.thegrandvenue.co.uk/
18 York St, Clitheroe BB7 2DL
Hessle, Town Hall
Saturday 26th March 2016
Box Office: 07969 457382
Tickets: £15.00
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/319706
South Lane, Hessle, East Yorksire, HU13 0RR
St Helens, The Citadel
Friday 13th May 2016
Box Office: 01744735436
Tickets: £14.00
Waterloo St, Saint Helens WA10 1PX
St Ives, Guildhall
Saturday 28th May 2016
Tickets: £14.00
http://www.stivesguildhall.co.uk/index.html
Street-an-Pol, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2DS
Lyme Regis, Marine Theatre
Sunday 29th May 2016
Box Office: 01297 442394
Tickets: TBC
http://www.marinetheatre.com/music/
Church St, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3QB
Kendal, Brewery Arts Centre
Saturday 4th June 2016
Tickets: £15.00
http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#CHANTEL-McGREGOR-TOUR
122A Highgate, Kendal LA9 4HE
Goole Junction
Saturday 18th June 2016
Tickets: TBC
http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#CHANTEL-McGREGOR-TOUR
Bilston, Robin 2
Wednesday 29th June 2016
Box Office: 01902 497860
Tickets: TBC
http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#CHANTEL-McGREGOR-TOUR
http://www.solidentertainments.com/presents.htm#CHANTEL-McGREGOR-TOUR
For more information visit: http://www.chantelmcgregor.com/
(Photo Gallery by Kieran White. Thanks to Peter Noble at Noble PR for help with this review)
