Review: Eddi Reader in Durham

Subject: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Colin Randall
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 04:26 AM

A highly appreciative review of Eddi's mixture of Robert Burns and contemporary material, much of the latter written by the excellent Boo Hewerdine (who also accompanies her) ..

http://www.salutlive.com/2011/04/eddi-reader-making-good-friday-great-with-bawdy

The review is the work of an obvious fan. But although I have seen Eddi only once, at the Union Chapel in north London some years ago, I must say it remains one of the most memorable concerts I have attended.

This performance was in Durham at the end of a tour but in case anyone is interested, she is back on the road again soon, starting with the Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham on June 5.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:29 AM

"Burns Bore" When Big Edna sings she sure bores me.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:33 AM

Wonderful, WONDERFUL singer!

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Colin Randall
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 07:36 AM

Cannot fault Lizzie's verdict. Did you by any chance have a bad experience with Rabbie Burns in school literature, Auldtimer?

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: GUEST,foggers
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 09:06 AM

Yes she is terrific. We will be seeing her on her June tour, hurrah!

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 09:06 AM

No not at all, Colin Randall. I am very fond of Burn's and his work. But I have had several bad experiences with dreadfull "singing" of Big Edna. Particulary with her atemps with Burn's songs. And I agre with Lizzie Cornish 1. She can be a wonderfull singer I have marveled and cheered with the best when she has struck form. BUT. No Burn's please, with or whithout the trembling hand.   N

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Bainbo
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 12:11 PM

I was there at Durham, and although I wasn't overly enthusiatic at first, finding the overly dramatic woo-hoo-hoo singing and arm gestures a but off-putting, she grew on me - largely because of the Burns stuff. Once I'd got used to her mannerisms, by the the end I was thoroughly enjoying her and the group.

The review doesn't mention that while introducing the band she inadvertently referred to her on-stage and off-stage partner John Douglas as "John McCusker". It would have been interesting to see the sleeping arrangements in whatever hotel they were using that night!

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 12:28 PM

Pop singer who couldn't hack it any more and decided to try selling herself to folkies instead after guessing half-correctly that we'd be more gullible than anybody under 40.

Somebody I'd go a long way to avoid.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Colin Randall
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:18 PM

... which is no more valid as an opinion than mine, Lizzie's, Foggers's, Bainbo (in time) or others who may or may not be gullible but feel they recognise an outstanding singer and warm entertainer when they se her.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:20 PM

What a horrible comment, Jack. You don't have to like her, but give Ms Reader some credit. She's always followed her muse, she's worked with some of the best musicians and songwriters in the business, and that voice of hers is a wondrous instrument.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Johnny J
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:34 PM

Auldtimer,

You seem to come over on this site as being a little less charitable than your usual self. Is it really you?

Jack is true to form though.
:-)

Re Eddi Reader,

I actually enjoy a great deal of her music including the "pop" stuff from her days with Fairground Attraction and much of her solo stuff too.

However, I'm not too convinced about her interpretation of a lot of traditional song especially that of Burns although I think "Willie Stewart" is a fun song(albeit the band arrangement helps make it).

She's actually quite a likeable person too even although some of her patter...even on stage... can be quite nonsensical and naive at times.

On the whole though, I actually like her.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 01:34 PM

Why give her any credit? She's a nasty product of the commercial pop business, her whole approach to music is generated by nothing more than greed, and her glib dumbing-down of the Scottish tradition is something I just want stopped.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 02:02 PM

her whole approach to music is generated by nothing more than greed

And you would know this how?

You yourself seem to be a nasty product of... something...

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: akenaton
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 03:58 PM

Jack dis know whit he's tryin' tae sae, it's jist thit he husnae goat 'es heid roon how tae sae it weyoot soonin' lik an ersehole...eh?

Oan th'ither haun, Auldyin is youshuly maist coherint in her form o' words, bit ah heer she's been associatin' wie a right bad crowd ower oan footstompin, his loast hur ekwilibreum awthegither an fell aff the fence......yoo jist wotch yersell Johnny.

Personilly ah dinnae think Rabbie needs onny help in the wey o' gimmicks as practiced by Miss Reader, his liricks staun up gie weel oan thur ain......lisen an lern ah eaweys say, an lee the music alane.

Ah wull sae bit, is wan thits felt the ruff edge o' Edna's tongue oan sevril occashuns.........she's a right big smasher!!:0)

Message specially transcribed from the Scots for Mudcat natives.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: GUEST,Pete Sixsmith
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 05:16 PM

Er, I wrote the review and I thought she was really canny as we say here in the North East. Got the slip about McCusker. Freudian or what?
Don't quite understand the animosity aimed at her, but I take people as I find them. It was a cracking show.

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: tritoneman
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 06:57 PM

I agree with Lizzie's comment. Eddi is a wonderful singer. I travelled up from Exeter to see her at the Union Chapel in Islington a couple of weeks ago. It was well woth the effort. She was amazing!!

Graham

Subject: RE: Review: Eddi Reader in Durham
From: Colin Randall
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 08:15 AM

But isn't it odd how some people can confuse personal opinion - this Scottish singer, those Geordie sister are rubbish - with fact? Johnny J- though we'd disagree on most things to do with Eddi - gets it absolutely right, in my view by expressing opinions he implicitly realises are open to challenge. Jack just needs to approach life with less anger and more joy.