As soon as Harry Jordan got to the microphone, we were immediately taken in by her personable aura. The Ort Cafe audience tonight is a well behaved one, and Birmingham born and bred performer wastes no time, diving straight into the first song of the night.
For those who have not heard of Harry Jordan the music is best described as a correlation of Rockabilly, blues and pop. What I find sets her a little different from the rest is her focus on Birmingham related lyrics.
The song Maggie May is actually about a Birmingham prostitute wandering and living around our all too familiar streets. She has also been recording her first EP at Highbury studios who have had the likes of Duaran Duran and Ocean Colour Scene. The EP Blowin’ Up Your Juke Box will be available from the end of March.
We are left waiting quite a while before Lisa Mitchell graces us, so the heavy applause and cheers are very intelligible. Her light footed, angelic and very fragile demeanour is almost illusory.
To bring us back to reality Coin Laundry is introduced, and a few excited fans reaffirm her presence. Her last release Wa ha has grown increasingly popular, and tonight it seems Lisa’s focus is to promote new songs, that are sounding more sophisticated and less reliant on the looping machine she uses on most of the old songs.
Thats not to say it takes away from her set, her voice alone carries it, its impossible for that not to penetrate almost any emotion you have going on inside. Neapolitan dreams was the highlight of the night for the audience as this is a clear favourite and well crafted song.
As Lisa declares the last song, she invited a friend from Australia on to play guitar and sing. The chemistry and choice of harmonies were mesmerising, and had everybody wandering if this is the future of Lisa Mitchell.
I for one found it an interesting and necessary progression and undeniably beautiful. For those who would like to see the live show click the link below to check out where she is playing next: http://www.thelisamitchell.com/tour/
Gig review by Lee Endres on behalf of Grapevine Birmingham. Special thanks to Birmingham Promoters.