‘Killing In The Name’ blasts out over the PA and the waif like Fenne Lily stalks towards the stage in ripped tights, skirt and t-shirt. Climbing on stage and strapping a guitar to her, she languidly swigs from a bottle of red wine while the band start to jam along to the Rage Against The Machine classic. You’d be forgiven for expecting a raucous, nasty punk show.
Fenne Lily looks out across the sold out venue and a quietness spreads as the PA fades.
The opener is perennial favourite ‘What’s good’. With a haunting vocal that plumbs bassy depths as well soaring high notes, the minimal guitar holds the melody together delicately but assuredly. As Fenne sings “'Cause I need this more than I knew, More than I'd like, more than you do, 'Cause I need this more than I knew, More than I'd like to..’ you get the impression that the sentiment belongs as much to the thrill of being on stage as it does to the narrative of this gut wrenching love song. This segueways straight into the next song, a more biting and driven guitar line than the last, picking up the tempo and getting the massed crowd moving.
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| Fenne Lily - Credit: Fenne Lily Facebook |
Next up is ‘Three Oh Nine’, but as it begins there’s a crackle and buzz of what appears to be a faulty ground or cable. Rather than break her stride, Fenne takes this opportunity to engage with the crowd, exchanging banter and stories while Francis the (exceptional) sound engineer rectifies the issue. ‘Three Oh Nine’ is yet another startling reminder of the breadth of talent of this self taught singer-songwriter.
The nostalgically sad and delicately phrased guitar of ‘The Hand You Deal’ is a heart wrenching tale and speaks of an emotional maturity that belies her years.
Bud has a rhythm guitar and subtle lead line which provides a platform for another tender glimpse of Fenne Lily at her most vulnerable. Through a breathy and positive sentiment, appealing for time with a loved one, she could just as well be pinching at heart strings as much as her guitar. So far this, along with ‘Three Oh Nine’ are standouts of the set. Until the next song that is. ‘Brother’ is dedicated to the only ‘nice boy’ among all the boys who haven’t been so nice throughout her life. ‘Brother’ is a beautiful song, gesture and piece of music, eloquent, loving and tender. ‘On Hold’ follows this which is the title track of the album, released on April 6th 2018, and yet another song which commands you to sit up and pay attention. The set closes with ‘The More You Know’ and ‘For A While’ easing you into the fact that the evening is drawing to a close.
As to be expected there are cheers for an encore and the crowd aren’t to be disappointed. Fenne returns to the microphone to tell the crowd that the next, and last, song is the first song she ever wrote. Called ‘Top to Toe’ it was written while 15 years old, sitting in an apple orchard and feeling the ache of loneliness. That a 15 year old wrote this stunning piece of work is testament to the musical maturity mentioned earlier.
Fenne Lily has entertained the crowd with delicate and supple slices of stark emotion, interspersed with raucous tales of sexual misadventure, loving family (they are all in the crowd tonight) and teachers who now return from obscurity to reconnect. Sorry Miss Gray, it’s not happening.
Fenne Lily returns to Bristol on April 17th to make the bones of The Thekla shake with emotion. It WILL sell out so I suggest you get your tickets as soon as you can.
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