Katie Noonan and The Captains joined forces on Thursday night at The Oxford Art Factory to create what can only be described as an honest and beautiful collaboration. This was the last show of their national Page One tour and the night before their debut album Emperor’s Box was released.
Vines and red velvet curtains bordered the stage and a single chandelier set an intimate dark mood. The Captains (Stu Hunter – keys/bass, Cameron Deyell – guitar and Declan Kelly – drums) stepped straight out of an Oxford Street vintage store and onto the stage; the tweed jackets and bowlers caps warmly welcomed by audience members. Katie Noonan glided up to her keyboard and microphone facing half towards her Captains and half toward the audience; she wore a boat in her hair, made entirely from tulle.
She opened in true Noonan style, her strong falsetto delivering Radar. By the time she reached the song Sweet One (co-written with Sia), shallow baths were filling up behind our eyes. Emperor’s Box tracks Cotton Wool, After the Rain and Golden swept us away on an expressive journey where the audience was left captivated and embraced.
Noonan has reinvented herself from her days with George and has done so with conviction and an unwavering pitch. During her keyboard solo in Space Between The Captains shied away from their instruments is respect. She sung of loss, female friendship, postnatal fatigue and the joys of her marriage, all while involving the audience and informing us of each song’s origin.
The Captains complimented Noonan’s haunting whispers with eerie percussion and guitar sounds and who could forget the glockenspiel. A simple touch which added precise chimes to her soulful operatic.
The Captains talent was showcased during Never Know Your Luck during the second half of their set. A song Noonan co-wrote with Tim Finn beautifully proving her rejection of trends and pop music.
The final song was the joyous and energetic Page One. With poetic lyrics and the dynamic backing band, this edgy debut single has the formula of a hit song.
Before the bitter-sweet encore Little Voice, Noonan said “This is a lullaby to sing you all to sleep.” We were left feeling dreamy and full; credit to their aptitude.
1 comment:
you paint an awesome picture with your words
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