GRAHAM GOULDMAN | LIVE REVIEW
The Gate, Cardiff, Sat 07 Oct
Even though I was too young in the 60s to have attended a hootenanny, this gathering is how I imagine one must have been. Throw in a large dose of British Invasion modness, some art-rock and touches of remembrance and The Gate became a place of worship again – to those who revel in melodic pop. Cornishman Ivan Moult, who’s been in Cardiff for 10 years now, held up the folk-end part, introducing the audience to songs off his reflective second album Longest Shadow (out next March). He’s a stunning singer, mellow yet earthy – a cross between Nick Drake and Paul Simon – an impressive guitarist and thoughtful songwriter. Single Easily Gone will be released digitally on 24 November.
It’s certainly something to be said of the songs done during just this show, either written or co-written by Graham Gouldman – 10 were UK or US top 10 singles, three making it to No.1. From the start (his hit for Wayne Fontana, Pamela, Pamela) to finish (10cc chart-topper Dreadlock Holiday), Gouldman shared his bounty of titles in a career lasting over five decades. We enjoyed smash hits from his early days for superstars Herman’s Hermits, The Hollies and The Yardbirds that included No Milk Today and Look Through Any Window and more 10cc hits with a back-to-basics I’m Not In Love – which in its own way is just as captivating as the recorded version and work from his time with Wax partner, the late Andrew Gold, with Bridge To Your Heart.
More recent compositions show a very personal side from his excellent, re-issued Love And Work: adorable Ariella (first meeting with his wife in an Indian restaurant), Daylight (a touching ode to Gold) and a sightseeing tour to his past (Memory Lane). Performed too, was the beautiful spiritual song Ready To Go Home, about his late playwright father Hymie who encouraged and helped him sometimes with song ideas and lyrics.
Accompanying the singer/songwriter on vocals again for this Heart Full Of Songs tour were Iain Hornal and Ciaran Jeremiah. All three shared guitar/bass duties, with Gouldman and Hornal primarily on acoustic guitars and Jeremiah on keyboards. Tour/production manager Dave Cobby helped out on percussion again, too. Really liked Hornal’s single Say The Word (co-written with Gouldman) from his new album. He also played a mean ukulele and slide guitar. Love’s Not For Me, one of his most lovely and poignant works, was given life with a French marathon-running goat in mind – it’s off Gouldman’s fantasy-fantastic soundtrack for the animated film Animalympics – and Jeremiah made Renés song extra special with his melodica.
People may not realise what a wonderful singer and musician Gouldman is in his own right because he’s created songs that so many artists recorded first. We got to hear 60s classics that I count among the most perfect pop/rock tunes of all time – Heart Full Of Soul, Bus Stop and For Your Love. A thrill and delight to hear these gems as they were originally written; a little bit of history to carry in our hearts and souls.
words RHONDA LEE REALI photos PAULA CHILCOTT