Tuesday 4th June marked the first date of Canadian artist Ruby Waters’ UK/EU tour for her 3rd Album ‘What’s The Point’, at The Sunflower Lounge, supported by Toni Sancho.
Sancho’s live sound was defined by a rolling tempo, layered guitar motifs and her simple haunting vocal melodies. Rich reverb and delay gave her lyrics the lingering physical presence their dark, romantic themes and contemplative messaging elicited. Her live arrangement of purely acoustic and electric guitar hinted at folk and country inspirations, although her stripped-back performance contrasts the fuller production on her latest EP ‘Heaven Knows!’ This mellow introduction to the evening fed nicely into Ruby’s acoustic work and made way for her performance.
Ruby’s recorded work suggests influences from a range of genres, from R&B to country, pop and rock. Ruby and her live band filled The Sunny with more than an hour of effortless, sultry blues pop-rock and technically intricate instrumentals fronted with gritty, powerful vocals and her gravelly, cursive drawl. The additional layer of skill and musicianship communicated in her live work, comparable to the detail in Cardinal Black and John Mayer’s work, appealed to admirers of the technicalities of music and her fans alike, the latter indulged in extended versions of their favourites. The rich, smooth and rhythmic work of the bass complimented the accenting stabs of the drums, providing a strong foundation for the guitar which melted into Ruby’s intense vocals. The live band articulation of her work brought a level of technical finesse and explored a new dimension to her sound that the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Those who liked Miley Cyrus’ ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ album or Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson’s ‘Valerie’, may find particular enjoyment in the range, fullness, and texture of Ruby’s voice, beautifully complimented by backing vocals.
The dedicated fans huddled around the stage transformed the atmosphere of a casual bar performance to one of a concert, singing, dancing, swaying, waving and cheering and electrifying the energy in the room. The interaction between band members on stage prompted choreography and wonderfully honest and comically explicit stage banter that was met joyously by the equally vibrant audience.
Performances included hit single ‘Adult Swim’, ‘Sour Patch’ and ‘Bucket’, which captivated the room. ‘Adult Swim’ appeared meant for its blusey rearrangement, the provocative and self-indulgent nature of the song furthered by its additional live motifs and riffs. ‘Sour Patch’ appeared to soundtrack a ‘main character moment’ for the those in front of me, turning the front of the stage into a dance floor. Fans of Cage The Elephant may enjoy the forward acoustic indie influences and droning accents of moody fan favourite ‘Bucket’.
On Ruby’s North American tour she is playing much larger venues, which made Tuesday night all the more special, witnessing an intimate show from an international artist sure to see similar success in the UK in the future.
‘What’s The Point’ is out on streaming platforms now!