Chantel McGregor/Long Road Home –
Cambridge Junction 2, Cambridge, 30th August, 2024
Set List: Are We Invisible?/Waiting For The Kill/I Lose Again/Where I Wanna Be/New Day Yesterday/ Heartbreak Guaranteed/Voodoo Moon.
As ‘Long Road Home’ took to the stage it was clear they are a band full of experience and class taking us on a ride of Blues consisting of good stage craft, keyboards, guitars and whiskey-soaked vocals from front man Mike Sebbage.
The music flowed creating a strong reaction from the audience as they watched ‘LRH’ play with precision yet also a joyous freedom and sense of relaxation, clearly delivering their music for the pure joy of it. I would compare their style to Blue Lena; like them Sebbage, White, Salisbury, Summers and new drummer, Morell create songs with complex arrangements and a sophisticated style.
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However, I discover ‘LRH’ are relatively new having formed in 2022, but their brand of Rock-Solid Blues can be traced back to the 70’s with influences of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep coming through. These are experienced performers with band members having worked with the late great Bernie Marsden, Midge Ure and Boy George! I, for one, will be checking out their previous work. A great opener!
Set List: Burn Your Anger/Killing Time/Eternal Dream/Crazy Little Voodoo/I Can’t Make You Love Me/Freefalling/Inconsolable/Anaesthetise/Cat Song/I’m No Good For You/Walk On Land/Lose Control/Creep/Take The Power/Purple Rain.
As Chantel McGregor took to the stage with her delicate ‘girl next door’ innocent, gentle beauty, bare feet and flowing dress, those who were not aware of her were immediately transfixed by the magical sound that emanated from the stage.
Equally, those who are familiar with her music were in jaw dropping awe at the seemingly effortlessness way she delivers with such power and intensity, the fluid fretboard notes flowing freely from her fingers as she becomes completely at one with her instrument.
The audience are completely mesmerised and entranced by some of the finest guitar playing you will ever witness which manifests itself in an eerie silence at the end of each song rather than roaring approval. This prompts Chantel to express her surprise saying, “It’s very quiet out there”. We are one of the quietest crowds she has experienced! Collectively, I think, no one wanted to break the spell.
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As we listened to Chantel’s in between song banter delivered in her no-frills West Yorkshire accent (this being in direct contrast to the beauty and subtlety of her performance), her references to being down the pub, and a degree of humour thrown in, we began to lose our inhibitions thus cheering and laughing in response and becoming far more vocally appreciative at the end of the songs from then on!
Her band offer the perfect foil to embellish upon; Jamie Brooks on piano shines with his dexterous playing, as does bassist, Colin Sutton, who gets his moment to dazzle us with his solo and interplay. Being unfamiliar with Chantel’s work my wife, Jane, and I took the time to watch some of her live performances on You Tube. We were blown away!
There were two particular highlights for us that we watched in complete silence, the utter power and raw emotion of these brought tears to our eyes and led us to count down the days to seeing her live and having this opportunity to review the show.
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Those songs were; a near 16-minute version of ‘Inconsolable’, a song that takes you on a journey through every emotion possible, starting acoustically, mixed with that ‘voice’ making you listen in astonishment and wonder, before going off in an electrifying meltdown that has you shaking your head from the sheer intensity of it.
And; ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’, which is quite possibly the most heart wrenching ballad we have heard. Chantel really bares her soul as she looks fragile and on the point of tears as her voice carries every ounce of passion she can muster. Then we get the emotive guitar playing which reminds me of Gary Moore on say, ‘Still Got The Blues For You’!
To our joy and that of the entire audience both these songs were played creating several teary eyes and a feeling of being completely spellbound.
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Chantel’s personality reaches out and embraces making you feel she is playing and performing just for you. Her eyes give off an air of coy innocence that draw you closer. There were so many magical moments, so many highlights. When a rendition of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ was played as the encore it took the roof off!
It was an evening of many delights, meeting Chantel before and after the show was a joy for us both, as was talking to her mum at the merchandise desk.
Our final word: breathtaking!
By Paul and Jane Mace