Live
Phanton Limb: The Lexingon (London) 27/10/09
It was my first trip to the rather swish bar/pub The Lexington in the Angel and duly impressed I was. A great pa and a discerning audience who knew a good thing when they heard it. Phantom Limb's debut album currently re-released with added extras is great but were they going to be as good live? The truth was about to unfold........
Firstly the signs were'nt good Yolanda was having a touch of bronchitis which ain't great news for a belting singer such as she is. However, the subdued start of 'Tumbling Down' a plaintive slowburner eased the band in gently to deliver a cracking set that gathered momentum. Sensing the crowd was behind them gave phantom limb the added lift they needed to rise above illness problems and deliver the goods.
'Run' demonstrated their singing finesse with lush stacked vocals counterbalancing the spaciousness of the song to devastating effect and the haunting slide guitar on the delicious sounding telecaster coupled with the B3 hammond Al green touches was the perfect marriage, i.e taste and harmony! 'Run' is a toon!! A big bold number that grabs you in a headlock the crescendoing coda blew the roof off. Phantom Limb showed us what different gear they really are!
This band will grab you by force of conviction with the rollicking, country soul underpinnings of their music. Yolanda's gritty, emotionally charged lead vocals in command, rolled through majestic guitar-driven song after song and every single song seems to be a gem! The vocal arrangements, powerfully alluring, elicit a multiple call and response statement between the band. Yolanda's raspy throated,sexy surging hollers, the acoustic strumming shimmers while the lead chimes and bends with bass and drums that vibrate you on an irresistible level where you have to nod your head. There really isn't much like this anywhere else, which understandably gives the band their unique style and perspective
Other highlights included new tracks which seemed to raise the bar even further. They sounded decidely first class. 'Simon' (that is a working title fellas tell me it is??) really evoked the deep dusky south and rich as molassess soul this band are capable of. Hank Williams 'Angel Of Death' also got the respectful and suitably elegiac treatment it so rightfully deserved (check out John Schofield's version fellas!)
Pacing their set seems to be an artform and they've mastered it so it was time for some raucousness not a million miles away from Ike and Tina. 'Withering Bones' with it's saucy lyric (which roughly went) "I'd wish you'd give more some more of what you've got though I never expected you to cum" Ha! a woman's lament!
Yolanda is a sensual lady and likes to express herself as only she can shaking her tush at the audience indicated she had temporarily forgotten about her woes and was having a mighty fine time! The gloriously slow and grinding encore of 'Proud Mary' really juiced up the crowd and the band steamed through it in swaggering fashion - Enriching each and everybody's soul.
It had been a joyous evening and credit to the bristolians for giving it their all. Enrich your spirit and seek out their knockout delight CD.
Words Emrys Baird
