Imelda May : Glasgow ABC 15th February

This was a great time to catch Imelda May's Rockabilly Review as she moved up from the intimate King Tut's to the more cavernous ABC on Sauchiehall Street. It is clear in every quip to the audience and laugh with her group that she has learnt her stage craft well. She still shows surprise at the large turnout on a Tuesday night in recession struggling Glasgow and she still has the grace to thank the audience.
She welcomes a broad church. Older rockabilly mixed with teen Imelda wannabes, Radio 2 tuners with indie pop kids. An audience with no side and the wish to have a good time.



The band are seen as being very accomplished. The are tight and well rehearsed and cope with the styles that their lead singer is enthusiastic about reaching for. Clearly an extensive diet of small venues has lead to a show that still feels intimate and as such is an audience's delight. You feel your money has been well spent.

You also receive an aural Wikipedia of the history of popular music for your shilling as Imelda takes on Howling Wolf, Johnny Burnette, Soft Cell and Elvis. The band touch on 60's surf guitar, Dr John's New Orleans, Squeeze's vignette's on lowdown London life, the western skies of k.d. lang and the spirit of Wanda Jackson. All played with verve and enthusiasm.

The question that hangs around after the three track medley of Elvis tunes that finish the set is, where to now? I can see Imelda, who is a superb singer, being picked up and polished by the American labels. With a skilled and highly professional backing band behind her she could pick off any American market she wished. Look how lucrative the country market is in the U.S.A. and think how easily Imelda would be marketed to the good citizens of the South.

If she followed the path in front of her created by her quieter songs like 'I'm Alive' and 'Kentish Town Waltz' then the door to the singer songwriter lair will be kicked off it's hinges to let her in. Or with tunes like 'Inside Out' and 'Mayhem' she sits next to any one of today's heralded pop princesses.
With her voice, songwriting talent, stage craft and energy she is going to leave both her band and mid-sized Glasgow venues on a cold Tuesday well behind.
It was a good time to catch her, very glad I went.