Lucy Rose @ Open
We are, once again, helplessly won over.
It may only be three months since Lucy Rose played Norwich's Waterfront to promote second album Work It Out, but it seems that many of that same crowd are again back at Open for tonight's 'intimate' acoustic show. Paradoxically, this is probably the least intimate show that she has ever played in Norwich, the vastness of Open's magnificent Banking Hall contrasting its opulent splendour with both the Arts Centre and The Waterfront.
Support is provided by Alex Eichenberger from Swampmother, whose shredding blues-riff guitar work and intense vocals is mesmerising in a PJ Harvey meets Anna Calvi kind of way. Also impressive is Sivu, who I last saw in 2013 supporting The Staves at NAC. Although he mostly plays material from the debut album the voice has definitely grown in maturity and versatility.
The lights dim as Lucy Rose seats herself on stage with acoustic guitar and begins Night Bus. Instantly we forget the grandeur of the neo-classical arches, and focus instead on the stage. It is a seated show, yet Lucy wastes no time in engaging with her audience, asking us to call out our song requests. We are six songs in before she deviates from the prepared set-list and plays Bikes, but who cares? She sings like an angel, and still manages to make us feel like the special ones. We are, once again, helplessly won over.
The talented Alex Eichenberger is back providing keyboard and cello accompaniment, and also the beautiful harmonies on My Life. New song Second Chance segues into a spine-tingling cover of What a Wonderful World. Be Alright is introduced as a love song, and we are even invited to book Lucy for wedding gigs. She also lets slip celebrity news about her upcoming video for Nebraska, although we are now all sworn to secrecy.
Gamble is the final song of the set, followed by a sing-a-long encore of Like An Arrow, and the One Show version-that-never-was of my favourite ever David Bowie song Kooks. A wonderful conclusion to the most personable of performances. And that's exactly why we all love Lucy Rose.
