Live Review: Paula Cole – 23rd August 2024 – Union Chapel, London, UK
4 min read
It was a wonderful trip down memory lane last night as US singer-songwrutwr, Paula Cole brought her suitcase of 90’s nostalgia to the quaint surroundings of North London’s Union Chapel as part of her brief tour of the UK to promote new album, Lo.
As well as playing home to a wide array of film, celebrity talks and comedy events, Union Chapel has grown a reputation as the home of many acts like Cole from the 90s with the likes of Natalie Imbruglia, Heather Nova and most recently, Joan Osborn all playing the small Islington venues stage over recent years.
The Grammy winning songsmith of hits like Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? and the globally familiar I Don’t Want To Wait has not performed much over the last 25 years and so her returm to London was one that was met with much anticipation. And Cole did not let fans down, appearing on stage at a little after 8.30pm and kicking proceedings off with the catchy Me and Tiger from her breaktbrough This Fire record with flawless execution and to a crowd already on their feet for the first of several standing ovations.
“I’m all nerves and tears. That’s the problem with not playing for 25 years – you never know if anyone is gonna show up”, Cole told the crowd before her performance of Tiger as the large stained glass windows above her burned a right red for the number.
Sat at an old, yet chatlrmingly battered piano which was positioned centre stage and dressed in a floor length black dress, Cole was joined by a trio of talented musicians which she often gushed over throughout the set. Together they delivered a collection of songs across contrasting styles from Cole’s very autobiographical catalogue to her very devoted fanbase which stretched from those in their early teens, right through to elderly couples that gave each other loving glances during some of the singers more soft numbers like the goosebump-inducing Carmen and a moving tribute to her mother as Follow The Moon cast a silent spell over the Union Chapel crowd.
Speaking to the audience frequently, Cole retold stories of her time as a backing singer in 1993 for Peter Gabriel, recounting the enormous crowds that she would spend her years performing for before creating her own path which led her to write the songs being offered up during last night’s set. She told of growing up in New England and meeting people like Mark Hutchence who would help mould her appreciation of musical styles and led her into a memorable tribute performance of new album notable, The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.
Encouraging the crowd to provide a hand clapping beat, Coles performance of Grammy nominated hit, Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? was nothing short of spectacular. With its soft spoken word verses and beautifully swaying chorus, the song proved one of the highlights of the night and one that allowed for the most audience interaction as they provided the punchy backing to Coles seasoned vocals and Cole always being so humble as she thanked her fans for the adoration she felt on stage.
Fellow commercial hit and Dawson’s Creek theme song I Don’t Want To Wait found its rightful place as one of the two encore numbers and injected a touch of Hollywood into the night. Once again we were able to hear a song delivered in iconic, original form from a singer whose voice sounds as good today as it did 30 years ago. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Cole has never sounded better.
Outside of the more familiar and mainstream inclusions, it was the soft numbers like the gorgeous Wildflower nearing the end of the set that cast a hypnotic spell over the audience as Cole’s whispers and pitch perfect vocals flowed effortlessly alongside her bandmastes delicate instrumentation as she exercised her impressive range and autobiographical songwriting skills to her passionate London fanbase.
We have been to dozens of shows at Union Chapel over the years and we are confident in saying that last nights performance by Cole was one of the finest we have seen. A truly mesmerising night that was rich in touching musical storytelling and some of the most exquisite and flawless live vocals we have heard in our gig going years.
Setlist:
Me
Tiger
Throwing Stones
Follow the Moon
Saturn Girl
I Believe in Love / Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye cover)
Comin’ Down
Carmen
Green Eyes Crying
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?
Take it take it take it
The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.
Wildflower
Encore:
I Don’t Want To Wait
Flying Home
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
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