ANNA CALVI // ST. LUKE'S, GLASGOW
Anna Calvi stormed the redesigned church that is Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s on this year’s final September night, showing the crowd her vocal prowess and her powerful stage presence. Mrs. Calvi left the audience transfixed and in awe after her jaw-dropping performance.
ANNA CALVI PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S ST. LUKE’S - 30.09.2018
PICTURE BY: ROBERTO RICCUITTI PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ [4.5/5]
In the characteristic east side of Glasgow, a quirky unique venue opened their doors for a fiery performance the viewers will not soon be forgetting. Saint Luke’s and The Winged Ox is a breath-taking pub and music venue. It started life in the 1800s as place of worship for Christians before the parish church was converted in 2015. These days, many old features still remain, including the balcony viewing, the stained glass window and the large organ. This wonderful venue amerces entrants in rich history at the same time as displaying some of the latest equipment for sound and lighting and a line-up full of modern gems.
Despite a slight delay to the start of the performance, Mrs Calvi made her presence felt as the spotlight fell upon her. Whatever held back the start of the set certainly did not hold back Calvi, who walked on to the stage and up to the crowd, playing heavy guitar, shaking her grungy, messy bobbed hair. Crimson lighting and smoke flooded the stage accentuating Mrs Calvi’s crimson blazer and bold look. She looked every bit the icon.
When Mrs Calvi began to sing, if one could tear one’s eyes away from her to glance across the crowd, one would see every person in the room fixated on the on stage. With her encapsulating performance, she brings to mind a perfect combination of the legendary female acts: Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Sharon Van Etten and Siouxsie Sioux. Her set balanced soft delicate melodies with hard powerful guitar and catchy hooks. With her music and performance, she captured the fragility, at the same time as, the harsh, brutal and powerful nature of man.
Some of the most stand out tracks of the night included: the edgey and catchy ‘Alpha,’ the critics favourite single ‘Don’t Beat the Girl out of my Boy,’ the deep and moving track ‘Hunter,’ the beautifully uplifting and melodical ‘Desire’ and the wonderful encore. The encore consisted of the brilliant ‘Suzanne and I,’ and a cover of Suicide’s powerful track ‘Ghost Rider’ where Calvi actually finished the song playing an intense guitar solo lying on the ground, giving this awe inspiring show a fitting close.
Calvi’s stunning musical talent in only truly understandable when she is seen in person as her recorded work does not do her justice and arguably comes off flat when compared to her live performance. Anyone presented with the opportunity to go to see Mrs Calvi should grasp it with both hands as this lady has boundless talent to perform and musical skill that will leave any viewer breathless.
SETLIST: | ANNA CALVI : ST. LUK'E’S, GLASGOW - 30.09.2018
Rider to the Sea
Away
Indies Or Paradise
Hunter
As A Man
Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy
I’ll Be Your Man
Alpha
No More Words
Swimming Pool
Wish
Desire
ENCORE:
Suzanne & I
Ghost Rider - (Suicide cover)