Flying Free
If you’ve been to a Sting concert lately, or you’ve seen the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, you’ve likely noted the resonant vocal stylings of Ms Jo Lawry. Last night at Subculture the Australian-born “Songbird” performed new songs off her forthcoming second album, Taking Pictures. Accompanied by an all-star band, Ms Lawry simply soared.
Bewitching the packed house for an hour and a half, the singer-songwriter took her career – and the audience – to new heights. Gliding through her new collection of jazz-tinged tender ballads, bittersweet break-up tunes, and more, all marked by catchy melody and intimate detail, she showed a degree of professionalism you’d expect from a more seasoned solo artist.
Ms Lawry opened with the sublime title track, an achingly heartfelt revelation on loss. “And in that rat race I was always running round/I never let my feet touch solid ground/I got so caught up in the day to day/I never even saw you slip away…” Lawry leveraged her sweet voice to mine all the emotion from these deeply revealing lyrics, a tale coming straight from her heart. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
Next was Adelaide, a sweet love letter to her hometown. Jazzy and gorgeous, this song evoked a dreamy romance. “Weekends often lost until Tuesdays/ it’s so easy to lose days/running one into the other/and of course then there’s you/I’m missing you terribly too/I long to see your face again…”
The first-class flight continued with Impossible, a duet she recorded with Sting. Guitarist Alan Hampton did an admirable job channeling the Geordie rocker, whose influence was felt all through the night. A perfect transition song, Impossible showed us Lawry has left the safety of the Sting nest to become an equally talented artist on her own. I hope it’s released as a single. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
Lawry next performed Flying Free, a touching tribute to her aunt, a successful singer in the ’60 who died at 24 in a tragic plane crash. A testament to her professionalism, she got through this surprisingly upbeat yet moving song without shedding tears, unlike most in the audience.
The high point of the evening was, The Bathtub and The Sea, an examination of the bravery one needs to go for one’s dreams. A perfect metaphor for the night, this song showcased all her considerable skills. She gave it everything she’s got, rising above the comfort of support singer to the responsibilities of a front-woman with her exquisite musicianship. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]
Other highlights included the evocative, I Said No, a deeply personal goodbye song, complete with killer ending; Below Minnesota, an exploration of the hope and heartbreak of an 1860s gold rush; and Morning Person, a beautiful meditation on starting one’s day, performed with backing vocals from Jonatha Brooke. The song finished with a Beatles-inspired harmonic coda. She asked the audience to sing along and joyfully, many did.
On nearly every tune, Lawry was accompanied her husband, the multitalented Will Vinson, who joined in on piano, sax, and vocals. She said he is the inspiration for all the love songs she sang, especially a waltz/duet, entitled, Too Late. “And now I am playing some dangerous game/And thinking of dresses, and picking out names/I try to resist but it’s to no avail/I’m a walking cliche, a caution'ry tale.” In terms of lyrics, narrative, and melody, I put this song right there with Sting’s End of the Game.
Taking Pictures will be heard in heavy rotation through all of my speakers, and I urge you to buy it as soon as it’s available on iTunes or Amazon. I also encourage you to see her perform these songs live too. You may find a few of them on YouTube.
Congratulations, Ms Lawry. Thank you for signing your new CD. Glad to have been among the lucky crowd to see your stellar career continue to rise, and I’m proud to call you my friend. Your new music already informs my life, and for all those gifts, I’m grateful. Happy flying.
