If you’ve been following the blog for the past several months, then you’ll be aware that I’ve become an ardent fan and follower of artist Zoe Graham. I first clapped eyes on her at the Echo and the Bunnymen show at Kelvingrove Bandstand last year – and I hate to disparage the Bunnymen but Zoe was absolutely THE BEST THING about that gig.
A few months later, I was over the moon to find that she was the support for Lo Moon at St Luke’s for their I Wish You Way More Than Luck tour in November.
Most recently, I sang her praises in my post for International Women’s Day.
Yesterday, Zoe’s debut album, TENT was released to the world. In celebration of the release, Zoe (with band – for Glasgow, at least…we are a lucky bunch of peeps) is doing a round of instore performances at Assai Records in Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh. Glasgow’s show happened yesterday afternoon – Dundee’s is currently taking place and Edinburgh’s is later this afternoon.
As soon as I heard about the Glasgow show I knew I had to go. It was a superb and fitting celebration for the album’s release. For 4 people to fit on the wee makeshift stage that had been constructed at the far end of the Assai shop was an impressive exercise in performing in a confined space without it betraying its obvious limitations – at least in physical manoeuvrability anyway. Zoe performed a short set comprising several tracks from the album, including ‘Push and Pull,’ ‘Even Though I’m Scared,’ ‘Good Girl,’ ‘Evilin,’ and ‘Divine Feminine Energy.’ The performance was absolutely fantastic, the odd musical blunder and fluff (only made detectable to me by Zoe’s wonderfully human reactions) only enhancing that beautiful human experience of experiencing live music.
TENT is a fabulously uplifting piece of work. Zoe has opened herself up to us and her recent life experience expressed through the ten tracks on the album are a joyous form of therapy. As Zoe herself describes the definition of the album’s title as “ten songs about therapy.”
As for my favourite track on the album? I can’t decide. They all have some kind of hook to them that lures you in and leaves an imprint, from the canine-esque calls on ‘Good Girl,’ the bass groove and chorus catch of ‘Evilin,’ the wonderful sustained length of the word ‘scared’ on ‘Even Though I’m Scared,’ to the sunshine unity of ‘Happen,’ there is something in every one of them.
Interestingly, Zoe spoke of the personality test that was in the store. Basically it is a test that gives you a result in relation to one of the tracks on the album, so you may just find yourself described as a ‘good girl.’ I’m yet to take the test, but I will be doing so after I upload this blog post.
I really feel that Zoe Graham is an artist to watch. She’s on the ascent and I will be there supporting her all the way. TENT is one of the strongest debut album’s I’ve heard in recent years. I implore you to give it a listen.
I will be keeping my ear to the ground for any tour dates coming up as I’m already itching to see Zoe live again. If there is any news on that front, I will definitely be sharing the information here.
STAY TUNED!
As a side note – it was mine and the OH’s anniversary yesterday – 27 years! Oh, my! The photos of Zoe and the band performing are photos she took, as are the two videos below. Please enjoy performances of ‘Evilin’ and ‘Divine Feminine Energy’ from yesterday’s show.
You don’t half get to some interesting gigs. Im looking at some tickets for the Smashing Pumpkins later this year.
And congrats on the anniversary