Mary Gauthier’s special guest, Texan singer-songwriter Jaimee Harris, took to the huge stage in the Downstairs Theatre in the Mac and within the opening minute she owned the room. Wearing her new and spectacularly rhinestone encrusted and embroidered 70s style red suit, and her signature pink heart glasses, she kicked off with her short endearing Opening Act, and from then on she could do no wrong. Only her second time accompanying Mary here touring Ireland, her songs and stories aren’t yet familiar to the whole audience, but she didn’t waste too much time talking, instead she let the songs speak for themselves. Redemption is the theme of Snow White Knuckles, a raw recounting of the horrors of battling addiction (to cocaine and alcohol, in her case). She recounts the story of being thrown into a songwriting project with Dirk Powell (who she had never met before) and the outcome was the next song, A Fair and Dark Haired Lad, which appropriately has a link with Irish folklore. Next came the title song of her most recent album Boomerang Town, followed by the as yet unrecorded Tattoo Zoo, one she ‘imagined’. She closed her short set with Love is Going To Come Again, leaving the enrapt 300 strong audience wishing for more.
Clearly happy with her big welcome back to Belfast, a beaming Mary Gauthier started by reminiscing about the ‘good old days’ when she first came to the city over twenty years ago and how much she always loved playing the Errigle Inn. The stalwarts of the much lamented Real Music Club (and I include myself among this cohort) were feeling quite smug, assuming that she remembered it for the warmth of the audience, however she quickly put us right as she explained that it was because of the wonderful food they served! However, we will forgive her anything, and she went on to give a masterclass in performance, songwriting and humour.
Between the Daylight and the Dark was the first of a selection of songs from across her substantial output of ten albums, starting with DIXIE KITCHEN in 1997. Her partner Jaimee accompanied her on stage on guitar and backing vocals throughout, the chemistry between them undeniable. Not touring a new album this time, but instead she has a book to promote and we were treated to a few readings from the just published SAVED BY A SONG (The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting) which she deftly slotted into the set. One of the anecdotes involved the tradition of the passing on of a guitar, from the late Nanci Griffith (who later became a good friend) in Mary’s early days in Nashville, at a gathering in Harlan Howard’s home. That led nicely into a powerful solo rendition of Griffith’s Ford Econoline from Jaimee Harris. The irony of I Drink, being performed by two openly recovering addicts was not lost on anyone, and Last of the Hobo Kings demonstrated Gauthier’s ability to get into the heart and soul of a character, enabling them to live on forever. One deeply moving song choice was the co-write, with our own Ben Glover, Til I See You Again, a tribute to their mutual friend John Prine. For the inevitable encore (and standing ovation) they performed Amsterdam, recalling Mary’s first time bringing Jaimee to one of her favourite cites - an uplifting end to a wonderful show.
Review and photograph by Eilís Boland