Notting Hill 's Tabernacle is a medium sized, quaint space with beautiful circular church-like qualities. The surrounding semi-circle balcony areas provide a clear, raised view, whilst the downstairs area is decked out with candle-lit tables - the first row just metres from the stage.
I've been a fan of Kate Walsh's for quite a while. Her living in Brighton area where I spent six years creates a special affinity for me. Many of her songs, including the most popular - 'Your Song' - almost seem like the soundtrack to a few years of my life. It is intriguing to see playing live the person whose songs conjure so many personal memories. The crowd here are relaxed and calm and that could be something to do with the layout of the venue which provides clear views and enough space for everyone. There are no oddly placed barriers and the venue lacks over-zealous door staff - an indication of the serene atmosphere.
If you haven't heard 'Your Song' at some point in your life, you've surely been hiding under a rock for a while. Walsh, like many other recent artists, began circulating her music on her MySpace page which earned a rapid response, building quite a fan base on her own. Her first album was recorded in a friend's bedroom and aptly named 'Tim's House'. It shot straight to No. 1 album on the iTunes UK Store, knocking Take That off of the top spot.
Walsh is girlish and charming in her approach. Her voice is entirely like that on her records - warm and soft - which is refreshing among the many digitally perfected artists of today. There has always been a running theme of her songs, that of love, falling in love, and falling out of love. She handles these topics so delicately, also creating striking imagery of a childhood spent at seaside towns. The delivery of her songs is raw but simple - there is no stage character and no attitude. Each performance is delivered with an innocent sense of narrative, telling stories of love gained and love lost. A few of the songs she says are about 'a lovely boy', and after listening to the words, you understand why.
Photo by Daniel Regan
It comes as no surprise, since Walsh is a classically trained pianist, that we're treated to an interlude featuring one of Claude Debussy's cello sonatas. Walsh also announces that during each live tour she will be releasing an EP of covers, and tonight's is a cover of Erasure's 'A Little Respect'. Stripped down with a beautiful piano backing by Walsh herself, she transforms the original upbeat track into something far more intimate. Even her track, 'Tonight', which she confesses is about one night stands conjures nothing but sweetness, unusual for a topic that is so often tainted with regret. The title track to her new album, 'Light and Dark', she mentions, is one of the saddest songs she's ever wrote. But that's in the past, she says, she's much happier now. Her songs - sad or happy - have the amazing quality of leaving you dazed and introspective, as if staring up the stars on a warm Autumn night.
Walsh finishes with her classic, 'Your Song', which sends shivers down my spine. Its tangible observation of falling in love and pining for the beauty of another leaves the audience dumbstruck with love lethargy, pensive, and silent before the rapturous applause. With Kate running her own independent record label - Blueberry Pie - it seems that she could be around, on her own terms, for some time. With two beautifully crafted records under her belt, I simply can't think of anything more welcoming.
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