Artist: Chantal Claret
Support: Olivia Sebastianelli
Venue: Madame Jojo’s, Soho, London
Date: 02/12/13
When opening act Olivia Sebastianelli takes to the stage there is already quite an impressive crowd forming, especially when you consider that this is Chantal Claret’s first UK show. Sebastianelli’s music is a combination of country and folk with a powerful bass line and cool guitar riffs to contrast her acoustic guitar and harmonies. Within the first song at least half the crowd are bobbing their heads. Before a few songs she tells us they can be found on her EP which is, in her words, ‘cheaper than a happy meal and probably better for you’.
As good as this first set was it is overshadowed completely by Chantal Claret. Her drummer and backing vocalists take to the stage followed by Chantal’s husband, Jimmy Urine. He picks up her glittery microphone (which suits him more than it should) and introduces her, as he does at the beginning of the ‘Bite Your Tongue’ recording. As he passes her on the way off he places a peck on her lips and the microphone in her hand. Then the evening really starts.
Chantal launches into her first song and it’s clear that she holds nothing back, her enthusiastic head banging collapses her up-do and contrasts her feminine lacy dress. She oozes confidence through the song and while talking, emphasising her words with large hand gestures and takes no time to indulge in sexy dance moves with her backing singers. After the first song she takes the time to thank us for attending her first UK show and continues to address the crowd consistently throughout the night. One time is to ask a few fans from the front row to catch her if she falls of the stage and to warn her if her short skirt starts to ride up.
The set continues with high energy, Chantal plays excellently off the audience, consciously making eye contact with everyone and leaning in close to the front row at times. The routines and dress code hold a strong cabaret vibe. The solid beat of the songs help and get everyone in the room at the very least tapping along.
Things slowed down then, as Chantal entered the crowd and got everyone sitting on the floor for ‘story time’. After discussing how ‘shitty dads’ is a universal problem she began to sing ‘Pleasure Seeker’. In such close proximity to the crowd it was even easier to tell how much of an effort she made to connect to every person in the room, constantly looking round and even holding hands or stroking the cheek of people sat closest to her.
When that was done and she was back on stage she posed a question to the crowd. “At what point do I tell my ex-boyfriend I wrote a song about him? Before I release it of after?” One helpful crowd member called back “Ask Taylor Swift”. “I’m not gonna start taking advice from Taylor Swift,” replies Chantal. “No offence, I’m sure she’s delightful.”
After that song she’s already asking questions again, this time double checking the legal age for consensual sex in UK. Once assured it is different here to the States, she announces that the next song, ‘Jail Bait’ is a cautionary tale should we ever visit America.
She does, however, take the time to tell us how great England is and confessing to being an ‘Englophile’. Pub food is on top of her best bits list, although she also loves the accent so much she’s surprised she married an American. She wastes no time in telling us that everything else about him is perfect, resulting in a large smile on his part and an ‘aww’ from the crowd.
A few songs from the end, Chantal asks us all to raise our little fingers and pinky promise to tell everyone how good the show was so here goes: Chantal Claret is amazing and one of the best live acts and you should all love her so she can come back and play more shows.
But in all seriousness, and pinky promises aside, Chantal Claret’s show really is a great night out, with great music, a relaxed atmosphere and an overall fantastically fun time.
10/10
Reviewed by: Jenna Young
Photos by: Kayla Elliot
