Never was there a more ideal union than Davey Lane and Gabriella Cohen, both possessing the kind of talent that inspires both awe and envy. While the end of their month-long residency was always going to be bittersweet, it also led to a few surprises, proving why teaming up for a residency was worthwhile in the first place. Support came from Jacky Winter in solo mode who treated the crowd to his punchy fusion of soulful vocals and samples.
Cohen arrived on stage with her usual backing band, launching into Beaches and I Don’t Feel So Alive, the lead tracksoff her stunning debut album Full Closure and No Details. Although Sever The Walls started in its usual fashion, Cohen introduced special guests The Carpark Choir during the gospel style synth breakdown that occurs midway through the song. Joined by close to 30 harmonising singers, the second half of Cohen’s set transformed the Gasometer into an entirely different place. Downtown was turned into a Motown classic, while the earnest I Feel So Lonely was taken to an entirely new level with the choir’s backing.
You’d imagine following their set may have daunted Davey Lane, but this certainly didn’t show. Lane and his band got straight into Witch In My Mind followed by Bound To Break Me, which featured the first of many impressive guitar solos. Lane treated fans to the slower number, This Is Hell, off his upcoming album before inviting Kat Spazzy on stage and unleashing the raucous She’s A Timebomb and Ronnie My Baby. Squeezing in Buzz The Boss, penned by Lane for the most recent You Am I album,and a cover of Nick Lowe’s Heart of the City, Lane proved that there really isn’t any song he can’t execute masterfully.
LOVED: The Carpark Choir.
HATED: The guy who stood right in front of me during Davey Lane’s set.
DRANK: Enough to send me to the bathroom twice in half an hour.
