The Festive period may be fast approaching, but it was business as usual at the Windmill, with the playlist remaining a Roy Wood and Noddy Holder free zone. Three acts were on the bill last night, beginning with the Fall infused tones of Goat Girl.
Glass presented a change of pace, with a sound that referenced electro pop old and new – vocalist Jessica Winter slinked about the stage whilst guitarist/keyboardist Scott Rimington kept up the beat.
Headlining was the tantalising talent of Jennifer Evans. Whilst busily picking up a lot of good press back home in Ireland, she’s still pretty much under the radar over here. With a style that mixes up elements of jazz and blues, she already has one album behind her (the lauded Works From The Dip And Foul), and she’s no stranger to the stage of the Windmill.
Playing with a full band (Shane Holly on drums and Sean Maynard Smith on bass) and with backing vocals supplied by Georgia Cusack, Evans dipped and weaved through her songs, with a voice that brought to mind Shingai Shoniwa of Noisettes or early Amy Winehouse.
These weren’t your standard four to the floor numbers, with Evans chopping out staccato beats and jazzy chords on her guitar as the tempo suddenly switched – it certainly kept a pretty busy crowd on their toes. The set ran through such numbers as Uncomfortable Word and Colours Of Bruises, and even when Evans was busy retuning her guitar, the beat still kept on as Holly and Maynard Smith broke out into a seamless jam.
Jennifer Evans seems to play a fair few shows around London, so the next time she’s in town, you should try to check her out whilst you can –it’s surely only a matter of time before she’s playing the likes of Brixton’s roomier venues!
