Posted on Monday 16 March 2009
By Justin Block
I admit i was a little worried come 9:00 PM on Sunday, The Ides of March in Madison, because I’ve been to five too many great shows in Madison where it appears the city was somewhere else sleeping and I feared on this Sunday night, that people would stay home and miss out the Aretha Franklin of England. Thats right, I said it! Luckily though, my worries were to put to rest and there was a good turn out to watch Alice Russell burn the roof off the Majestic. I was a little surprised the band didn’t have a horn or someone on keys (the bassist did play on a synth a few songs) but I was even more surprised at the funky sound they were able to get out of the drums, guitar, bass, and electric violin.
The band came out blazing with the second track off Alice’s newest album, Pot of Gold, with “Two Steps Forward.” They followed that with my favorite tracks, “Mean to Me,” which makes great use of the electric violin. Other highlights were “Seven Nation Army” which Alice sings like Jack wrote the song just for her, “Fly in the Hand,” “Turn & Run” off the new album, & “Hurry On Now” with the great line of “Devil took a pity of my troubles; he holds my tired soul” belted so loud I imagined people being able to hear her blocks away.
The encore consisted of my favorite track off the new album “I’m Hungry followed” by a new, yet recorded song called “Dress to Impress.” All I can say is if you missed this performance, don’t make the same mistake twice as she has one of the most original and soulful voices of her generation and I guarantee you’ll have a great time.
Buy: Alice Russell – Pot of Gold
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Myspace: Alice Russell
MP3: Alice Russell – “Seven Nation Army”
MP3: Alice Russell – “Got The Hunger”
