The old adage "appearances can be deceptive" was never more true. Looking at the cover of Sandy Dillon's new album 'East Overshoe' simply doesn't prepare you for her live experience.
The album cover shot suggests a kind of Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell-type folkie. The reality is a snarling, pouting amalgam of Janis Joplin, Mick Jagger and Tom Waits, playing a down'n'dirty blues that is rich with the spirit of the likes of the Stones circa 'Exile On Main Street'.
It helps that she has a stellar band, including British blues veteran Ray Majors providing some incandescent slide. However, Dillon is indisputably the star of the show. With her gravel-rough voice and bump'n'grind dancing, she leaves the audience transfixed.
Even behind the piano for slower tracks like 'Send Me A Dollar' and 'I'm Just Blue', she's still captivating. Demure when receiving the warm applause of the early crowd, she then mutates again into a whirling dervish for 'Hot Potato'. She'll have made a good few converts with that performance.
If you've been a regular reader of these pages over the last few months, you'll probably know all about Cousteau. Melancholy, swooning songs laced with vocalist Liam McKahey's velvet tones. Kicking off with one of the highlights of last year's fine debut album, 'How Will I Know', the band overcome a broken microphone and an outbreak of flu in their ranks to triumph again.
The epic 'Jump In The River' and the still-gorgeous 'Last Good Day Of The Year' remain the jewels in their crown but the second encore brings out a new track that shows the band are not resting on the considerable critical plaudits they've received. If only they could translate them into record sales. Sadly, that's the problem affecting both of tonight's very special acts.
