Live Review Kezia Gill @ Green Door Store
Kezia is the powerhouse that I've been following ever since I first saw her at the FSA festival all the way back in 2018 when she was touring with the good old boys, steadily growing over the years.
This was the second night of the tour for me last night; I was in south Hampton.
Tonight was the penultimate night of the tour with the band the green door store and new venue for me in Brighton not the easiest venue to find as its placed underneath the station and there is actually no sings at all other then green door with number 8 leading to the venue brief wait out side as I was early talking to other people about how long they have been seeing kezia and where they first saw her quite few had come from the the shires tour witch was great to see and then some the usal FNC members that I know door time came and we where let in long bar on the left leading to the back room main stage area raised stage area at the back of completely un even cobbled floor as one of the first in there i got the front and center spot standing
in what was the drainage channel lets say its an interesting only a green lights lighting up the room its more suited to grunge type of gig we are essentially in cobbled arch way probably form the Victorian era the spaces filling up not quite sure how the advertised capacity of 230 according to the website will fit in here as its completely sold out I am pretty sure it's the only venue central Brighton of this size.
45 min passes and its on the opener w21 label mate Brian collins old deamons new friends & never really left to start to excellent opening tracks the 3rd track enjoy the ride leading to a wonderful sing along moment splitting the crowd in 2 half for different vocal sections the crowd is loud and in full singing for perfect opener the track warming the crowd up
harder I run an excellent harmonica track , You Wear That Whisky well starting with great tale about him being called in for meeting at 7am while out of the piss in Nashville at 3am then afterwards his manager after telling him you aced it he was still half cut you where that whisky well another excellent track in the support set shine a little love featured the guest paul for some great harmonies moments
and perfect opening set by Brain Collins and his guitarist Rock well Jacobs
quick 15 min break and it was on to the headline act Kezia gill lights go down and the epic entrance music comes in mash up of her songs in adventurers of travling mind the long intro where Kezia Is singing off stage stage as the band take to the stage to start it off then Kezia appears from the side there no chance of her doing her usual crowd walk to the stage, its packed in this tiny room quick flash of her sparkly jacket saying happy go plucky a reference to her bbc appearance the other week and its on to ,
The mess I made but first small chat to the crowd about being in Brighton and the tour Country song came next and the masses are in full on singing mode there some thing about this room and the energy in it.
it's the forth song and the fourth coming single she mentions the usual way teasing you with few snippets before the release and short promo clips but his time her and team have decided to go full on playing track everywhere no secret about is at all its high energy bannger called whisky over ice a lot of people have done more than one date of this tour so theres all ready people singing along
up next thirty's a small story about realising she can not drink for 15 or so days in a row whilst on tour fan fave as there's lots of singing going on that's the electric guitar section finished, her partner Lloyd appears to take the guitar away and there shouts of loydie loydie loydie on to the first piano song of the night dead ends, and detours, the chorus ill find my way ill find my way leading to everyone singing along
She then lets the band have a break, commenting that she is not one for letting the band take a break but wants to bring it back to where it all began playing solo for years, and the most surprising fact is that I didn't know she had tried out for the x-factor the 12 years in a row and also various other shows!
leading in the story behind this track girl of your dreams about their relationship and the moments they have shared she has the whole room focused on her not that she didn't already have them the acoustics in the room are amazing
next up like I did be before the previous single she mentions the number of messages she got asking her if their relationship is ok as its essentially a break-up song co-written with Katey rea
Where around halfway now, Lloyds back to pass her the acoustic guitar, and there's more chanting his name on to im here, the track that she had written just before playing the Sunday service at buckle and boots; there is so much singing going along in this track that she can step away from the mic and let the crowd halfway through the track they sneak back on stage to join her for the final section and wow an impressive vocal run form her and crowd is so loud she enjoying the moment so much soft ending excellent crowd harmonies
Quick guitar change to the 12 string and instrument that her dad played she mentioned that she has held it together for all dates of the tour so-far as its story about her dad singing for living but her sister is in the room the song played out and it go bit much for her she is singing for living in back street bar and her sister is there he would be so proud the loudest cheers for long period rase of the glass the end of the track and she says brighton you are the first night to break me
another track on the 12 string is cover forever young song her dad used to play quite a lot she has even got the lyrics on her wall at home the acoustic guitar is back and there joke about does loyd like to called loyde loyde bit back fourth banter between her and her sister after sing happy birthday to her and the tale of how her sister finished of the lyrics to one of songs
live it up full on energy is back on after the slowed down section tonight tonight live it up more of the loud crowd singing along house of cards came next making joke about how she used to sining this as opening track for her sets due to the first line can I have your attention , will build it up getting the crowd in full swing
Easy Come Easy go the penultimate track the crowd clapping along and singing so much energy in the room they certainly know her tracks
the final song of the night whisky drinking woman and loyd is back on stage for the start with more chanting kezi says don’t give him I dears hill be expecting that all the time now hes got a bottle of whisky in his hand pouring her a strong one and she starts ill drink it down I like it with a dash loyd pours a bit in the the lyrics dash get longer as the glass is filling up high energy for the final song what a show
loudest of cheers for an encore and the final song a cover of with a little help from my friends Brian and his guitarist are back on stage as well rockwell Kezia opening the track on the piano with Brian coming in on the harmonica back and fourth sining between all leading up to Kezia on vocal and Brian harmonic battle to finish so much energy going I don’t want it to end but off for the final night tomorrow in London
set list 1. Adventures Of Traveling Mind 2. The Mess I Made 3. Country Song 4.Whisky Over Ice 5. Thirties 6. Dead Ends & Detours 7. Girl Of Your Dreams 8. Like I Did Before 9. Im Here 10. Local Mans Star 11. Forever Young 12. Live It Up 13. House of Cards 14. Easy Come Easy Go 15. Whisky Drinking Woman 16. With A Little Help From My Friends
Full Youtube playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTwr9NXwje40EZpWl-wb1zNA3LJ-SFXGT
the Venue they say first impressions are essential and second chances rarely come. Id give this venue a second chance despite the awkward, massively uneven floor; the energy created in that space.
Brian was the perfect opener; with a friendly stage presence, you can clearly see that he is having a blast up there touring the Uk I could quite easily see him at Buckle & Boots or playing the Front Porch at the long road lets hope its not to long before he is back in the UK
Kezia is certainly having the time of her life touring the Uk and clearly shows there was something about tonight's venue and the crowd just made this gig magical the acoustics in the room and the whole of the set production on Kezia's set list was crafted to perfection it all flowed so smoothly I hear might be an album coming and Maybe another tour no doubt in much bigger venues she defiantly deserves it she been grafting for years and knocking on doors that support slot for the shires had seen her finally break out and reach new folks lets hope this tour and what she is achieving helps more independent artists grow roll on the future of her and her team at Zimagend Donna who done an amazing job since becoming her manager and the team at w21records for the future
