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| Photo: Wout de Natris |
In January Chris Eckman (ex-The Walkabouts) released his latest solo album 'The Land We Knew Best'. The album is beautiful. There's simply no other word for it. Eckman's songs are now in my life for 32 years. Ever since the release of 'New West Motel' I have followed almost every step he set in his career. Almost, as I found out that two of this solo albums were missed by me, as at first were collaborations with others.
When I read that he would be playing a solo show as support act of The Delines, I knew I had to be there. To think that I almost would have gone to Rotterdam for nothing, as flight delays almost made it impossible for him to leave Ljubljana in time to make it to the show. Sometimes luck smiles on people, on both Eckman and his fans, as the airport personnel were so kind to reschedule his flight is such a way that he could make it in time.
I had never been to Lantaren Venster before. What a nice venue and what a great sound. In the past I was always so enthusiastic about the sound in the Q-Bus in Leiden. (Where I saw Willy Vlautin's former band Richmond Fontaine twice.) Lantaren Venster's sound is one level up. It was simply perfect. Almost as listening to an album at home. So clear, so spacious. Cudos for the sound engineer!
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| Photo: Wout de Natris |
Chris Eckman played a 35 minute show. It took about two songs for his voice to warm up and for the guitar to be totally zoned in. From that moment onwards there was no looking back. I can listen to his darkish voice all night long. The elementary but clear guitar playing supported his songs and voice. Eckman is no virtuoso. He's an accomplished guitarist and a great songwriter. With several songs of his latest album, stripped down to the bone, he commanded silence in the venue. Everybody was listening and rightly so. The quality of his compositions stood the test of his solo performance with ease. With 'The Stopping Of Place' we got one The Walkabouts song, where I'd hoped for one or two more. Which is okay of course. This show was all about the new album. I hope that his new album is picked up more and more and that this will allow him to tour at some point in a band setting again. Being Uncut's album of the month may just be that little push he needs. In the meantime, I'm glad that he was in the country once again. This was a beautiful show. For all of you who have become curious, in May Chris Eckman tours with The Delines again.
Here you find our review of The Land We Knew Best:
https://wonomagazine.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-land-we-knew-best-chris-eckman.html
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| Photo: Wout de Natris |
The surprise of the evening was The Delines' show. You will not find an album review by my hand on this blog. By necessity, to be released new albums are scanned fast before I put in time to write about one. The Delines never made it past that first cut. You can imagine I was sceptical going into the show. It took about 30 seconds and I knew the evening was going to be fine. Jazzy, soul, pop, ballads, whatever you want to call it, there are elements of all these genres in The Delines' songs. According to the bio the band was started by Willy Vlautin in 2013, then of Richmond Fontaine and a budding author, to give singer Amy Boone a spot to show her voice to the world. What a great decision that was!
The band is filled with musical veterans who play this slow kind of music with so much ease and finesse. All the solos were trumpet solos by keyboard player Cory Gray. The rest of the band served Ms Boone and played delicate solo lines within chords. They also delivered three harmony parts. The biggest feat vocally were songs where there was almost nothing to hang on to as vocalist, as everything to do with the melody came from the voice and not one single instrument. There was nothing to help Amy Boone keeping melody and time. It sounded just perfect.
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| Photo: Wout de Natris |
As a final comment, Vlautin wrote a few songs for her that started like a familiar one from the past and then took its own turn. I thought I heard Nancy & Lee's 'Summer Wine' and Gladys Knight & The Pips' 'Midnight Train To Georgia' start, only to leave again. All to make Amy Boone shine. And shine she did.
The world is full of surprises and this day I was allowed to witness one. A beautiful evening thanks to two great artists.
Wout de Natris - van der Borght
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