Upstairs @ Whelans was the setting for Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker's first ever gig in Dublin. When explaining to my other half who I was going to see I just said, “I saw them at Cambridge”. That is enough to justify that I am going to see something that was so good, it just has to be experienced again.
Support came from Bostonian Dietrich Strause, who has been on this entire tour with the couple. Ben guested on guitar on one of his songs and Josienne on vocals on another one. Dietrich had his brand new CD 'How Cruel That Hunger Binds' for sale at the show.
Josienne and Ben almost seem to come from a different time. Their music at times sounds medieval, classical, and at other times reminiscent of 70s folk – Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson in particular.
The previous time I had seen Josienne and Ben they had had a band with them, that included Red Clay Halo musicians Anna Jenkins and Jo Silverstone. This time they were on their own – just Ben's excellent guitar-playing and Josienne's beautiful singing. I loved the pared down sound.
Although she comes across as shy and sings either with eyes staring in the distance or cast down, Josienne Clarke has a wicked sense of humour and her in-between song talk perfectly balances the bleakness and melancholia of the songs. She is the songwriter in the duo and this is no mean feat. The majority of the songs performed at Whelans were written by Josienne and they were magnificent.
'Something Familiar' from their just released album 'Overnight' is probably the best song she has ever written. If there is any justice it should get nominated at next year's Folk Awards. If interested, check YouTube for the haunting video for this song, starring actress Olwen Fouéré. I am not a fan of story videos as I prefer to have my own images with songs, but this is a fantastic video that plays on in your mind long after watching it. And as for the song, it has the same qualities as Richard Thompson's 'Beeswing', Tom Waits' 'Martha', Martin Simpson's 'Never Any Good'... in other words: It makes you cry.
The set included a few covers. Josienne joked that Gillian Welch must know her, as 'Dark Turn Of Mind' seems written about her! I did not know the song but am now going to seek out the original. They also covered Fairport Convention's 'Fotheringay' (nice) and 'For All We Know' by Nina Simone. The latter has never been my cup of tea, but that's nitpicking.
The gig was reasonably attended but it was by no means full. There is not a huge audience for English folk in Ireland, though the Unthanks and Kate Rusby draw big audiences these days. In a way it is a privilege though to see such amazing artists in the intimate setting of the upstairs room at Whelans. You got the impression that everyone present was in awe of the gig. There was zero walking and talking during the set.
It was quite a contrast then to transit from the beautiful music made by this talented, well-spoken duo into the crassness that is Camden Street on Saturday night at Halloween weekend... I wanted to just run home, close the door and put on the CD to prolong the atmosphere of the concert.
Helen
