Review: Charlotte Hatherley
Tonight's gig is the first joint promotion between The Railway and SXSC, who have yet to put on a gig that I haven’t come away from having found something new to love. With their focus on music quality not genre, and the Railways keen eye on bringing in exciting bands on the edge of the radar, it’s an interesting combination.
Either Charlotte Hatherley has an extra-ordinarily large Winchester fan base, or one of three other factors could be at play tonight:
- Lots of Ash fans
- Immense backlash against Jedward still being in X-Factor causing a mass boycott and search of alternate entertainment
- Canny promotion of the gig by using *that* cat suit picture from her website.
Of course, I jest somewhat, though there’s no doubting the first and last suggestions have some truth to them. Only the first in my case, lest I get myself in trouble…
You could be forgiven for thinking that her real first name is “ex-Ash guitarist”, so frequently is this applied in any press. This year – with constant gigging, touring with Bat for Lashes and an acclaimed new album - could finally be the one that allows her to drop that moniker and become Charlotte Hatherley: bona fide pop star, especially if tonight’s set is anything to go by.
After initially puncturing the daydreams of some of the audience by taking to the stage in a rather sombre white jacket and jeans (judging by other gig shots I’ve seen, she only appears to have packed one tour outfit!) and a static opener from the new album, by the second song Charlotte manages to start spinning her web.
‘Full Circle’ is a short schizophrenic jumpy little thing, veering from Joan Jett chorus through prog- rock keys and dreamy ‘Goldfrapp-isms’. From here in it’s a very polished and professional show, with album title track ‘New Worlds’ spiky and brit-pop enough to see her get in full flow and start opening up the sound more. For a set comprised mainly of the unfamiliar new album songs, it nevertheless captivates and shows just how good a songwriter she is. Recent single ‘Alexander’ is a beautiful example of this, as summery and wistful as you could hope to hum to then scattering into several mischievous changes of direction. Although the crowd is quite reserved – heck, this is Winchester, we do silent but appreciative – it’s clearly engaged and focussed, and becomes ever more so by the time ‘White’ is played, and another highlight, an awesome version of the aptly named ‘Kim Wilde’.
Throughout the evening her guitar and foot pedal work is astounding, as are the vocals and I can’t help but feel a (very welcome) ‘Lush’, ‘Echobelly’ et al type vibe infusing the melodies. After only an hour, but a great one, the proceedings are signed off with a rousing finale of the well received ‘Bastardo’, and a feedback outro escorting the band on their way out through a happy, cheering crowd.
Listening to it played out perfectly on stage it makes you wonder why, with so many radio-bothering gems, she isn’t more widely known. In an era where the barriers of indie, retro eighties synth, and quirky female fronted pop have been blurred together, Charlotte not only fits in perfectly, but her inventiveness pisses all over most of them.
Perhaps she could be a bit more animated and talkative on stage (though the bassist makes up for this with some enthused bouncing), but with songs this good, it’s really the only criticism one could come away with.
Chris Roberts
Charlotte Hatherley; Sunday 22nd November, Railway Inn, Winchester.
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