8th July 2024
“That don’t impress me much”, said no one in the audience after witnessing Lindsay Ell’s electric set. The musical polymath, who was fresh from Glastonbury and Hyde Park after performing as Shania Twain’s guitarist, dominated the stage from start to finish. I will avoid limiting her to just Shania Twain’s guitarist, however, as it would violently undersell the raw talent that pulsed on the small stage of Borough’s grungy-chic venue, Omeara that night.
Despite, admittedly, lacking any particular prior regard for country music, the Canadian ignited a newfound respect inside me for this genre. My scepticism ran high as I looked around and saw a selection of die-hard country-heads, but my guard dropped immediately as my toe began to tap.
“That don’t impress me much”, said no one in the audience after witnessing Lindsay Ell’s electric set”
Ell’s style is a delightful cocktail of Hayley Williams, John Mayer, and Miley Cyrus, putting a punk-rock twist on classic country. Her team of musicians perfectly complimented her raspy voice and complex guitar solos without fading into the background.
Amidst the gorgeously rehearsed genre-spanning ballads and anthems, Ell took time to build rapport with her lifelong fans by taking acoustic requests. Each string on the paired-back guitar was plucked with pure delicacy and grace, providing a welcome moment of relief from an otherwise vibrant set.
The artist also opened up about her inspiration for new music that is currently in the making, drawing on her recent diagnosis with an eating disorder. The new material was articulate and melancholic whilst still retaining that edge that is so appealing about her previous songwriting.
Ell’s choice of support was perfect. Abbie Mac, a 17-year-old from Derry, performed a selection of country favourites, putting her own unique twist on the genre. An air of confidence radiated from the performer that was refreshing, captivating an audience in a way that was unlike I have ever seen a support do before.
If I were to recommend one song to listen from Ell’s sprawling discography, it would have to be Right on Time. It is violently catchy, replacing Girls Aloud’s Sound of the Underground as my go to tune to take on the Northern Line during rush hour.
I left Omeara donning a spiritual cowboy hat and boots, babbling all the way home to my boyfriend about the gig.
Christian Vince
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