What a welcome return to Dublin this proved to be. The last time that Courtney Marie Andrews played in the city was back in 2022 when she appeared solo at Liberty Hall in fulfilment of a previously cancelled show from 2021. Tonight, her return has been greatly anticipated, as witnessed by the capacity audience, together with her first new music in four years. Her current album VALENTINE now being toured across nine European countries, before returning to America for extended dates into late April.
Her career started to gain momentum ten years ago with a lot of media attention around her album HONEST LIFE (2016). Since that jumping off point, Courtney Marie has steadily build her reputation around a strong touring ethic and continued quality output across subsequent album releases MAY YOUR KINDNESS REMAIN (2018), OLD FLOWERS (2020), and LOOSE FUTURE (2022). Now we stride forward to her tenth studio release and an opportunity to reflect upon her journey taken, over the same ten year period, in a career that has really blossomed into different directions.
Today, Courtney Marie finds herself in a space that would have been a pipe dream for her younger self. An independent recording artist, surviving in an industry that is particularly cruel and dismissive of solo female songwriters, guiding a career strictly on her own terms. She is also a poet, having published two books of her inner musings, and a painter, who has been exploring this side of her creative process since Covid lockdown.
Her interest in continuing to grow and explore as a creative artist has never been more evident that on the new album, and the superb Valentine is a beautifully crafted testament to her fascination with both connection and love, in all different forms and guises. The ten songs are creatively refined, subtly woven with layered melodies, that form a perfect mirror for self-reflection and quiet contemplation. Played here in a live setting, without studio technology, they stand alongside any of her impressive back catalogue.
Tonight, accompanied by her excellent three-piece band, Courtney Marie Andrews delivers a show that includes a full performance of the new album, the back-to-back delivery of all ten songs making perfect sense in the intimate atmosphere of Whelan’s. The band comprises Jerry Bernherdt (album co-producer) on keyboards and guitars, Matt Carroll on drums, and Taylor Zachary on bass. Each musician is superbly gifted in the art of serving the song and playing comfortably at all times in what is commonly referred to as “in the pocket.”
Their band interplay and harmony vocals are very impressive throughout in support of Courtney Marie, who displays her own expertise on both acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, and flute (who knew!), to great effect. She also delivers a vocal master-class on what nuanced performance is all about – quietly reflective in one moment; powerful and poignant at the next. Her pitch and tone has always been capable of melting the hardest heart at ten paces and tonight she soars like a songbird.
In fact, the presence of artificial white doves on the instruments and microphone stands is further evidence of the abiding message that she wants to impart; that we are all part of the same cosmic glue, and we have more loving awareness in common than what keeps us apart. Release the white doves of peace…
Of the new songs, instant stand-outs are Cons and Clowns, Little Picture Of A Butterfly, Outsider, and Best Friend. It’s a sign of their quality in that they sound like immediate favourites, and are greeted warmly by the enthusiastic crowd. Courtney Marie also takes some moments to read from her recently published poetry book “Love Is A Dog That Bites When It’s Scared”, but it’s a missed opportunity in that she doesn’t frame the pieces that are performed or introduce them in any context. Such is her reluctance towards self-promotion, preferring to let the work speak for itself.
Outside of the new album performance, she visits four previous albums across seven songs chosen, with favourites such as Table For One, Irene, Burlap String and If I Told all included. She performs an unrecorded song titled Standing In the Rain and also the superb Near You, which appeared on an EP titled LEUVEN LETTERS(2014). One of the encore songs is the iconic May Your Kindness Remain and the words hang in the air almost like a prayer against these troubled times ‘The richest of people aren't rich with houses, cars, or fame, No, they're not rich with something that can be bought or arranged, No, it's kindness that makes them beautiful and a kind heart don't cost a dime, It's a gift that keeps giving for the rest of your life.‘
It’s an atmospheric performance in a room packed with hushed admirers. Courtney Marie speaks of her joy in returning to Whelan’s and of her first memories playing there as a very young artist (in the front bar)! Not only has she come a long way since such humble beginnings, there is a special place in our hearts for the beautifully constructed art that Courtney Marie creates, and a warm glow to be in the presence of live performance of this quality.
P.S. The opening act tonight was Roisín Gowen, an Irish singer-songwriter who has a winning stage presence and a way with a song. She played her tunes to a listening audience who were very encouraging, and both Gift Of Presence and Fighting Spirit were well received. A cover of the Sandy Denny song Who Know’s Where the Time Goes was also included, after some extended tuning and audience interaction. Roisin has an album launch party taking place on 28th March next in Dublin’s Unitarian Church.
Review and photos by Paul McGee