(W)reckless and refined: Haley Bonar live in London

10 April 2017, 11:56 | Written by John Bell

(Live)

(Haley Bonar) (HALEY)

Fifteen years into the game, Haley Bonar seems to have refined what it takes to be a great songwriter perfectly.

Take last year’s Impossible Dream, for example. Ten three and half minute (give or take) songs and critically acclaimed across the board, the record is a symbol of succinct creativity in an era of ‘playlists’ and filler. Her performance tonight at The Dome in Tufnell Park continues this ethos, speeding through her hits with a happy force and little talk in between.

Support tonight comes from Maryland’s understated indie songsmith Michael Nau. Opening on his ‘conquering song’ “Love Survive”, it’s a shame that his band lacks the keys and vocal parts which play quite an integral part in the song’s hook, but he soon makes up for it with his comforting style of psych-tinged garage-pop.

The Dome’s deep acoustics give the dry drum pads of Haley’s opener “Jealous Girls” a boomy punch, and the overall effect is pretty dramatic. Though it’s a slow-burner of an opener, her band blend it seamlessly into the moody blues of “Your Mom Is Right”, playing with its pace and clearly having fun with it.

The more measured “Better Than Me” and “Hometown” seem to go down just as well, though, and Jeremy Ylvisaker’s slide guitar solo sounds as dreamy as it does on record.

Haley’s vocal control is impeccable, perhaps most evident in the more minimal “From A Cage”, from 2014 Last War, as she sings “If I washed my clothes and I combed my hair / Would you still look at me the same?” It provides a much smoother version of Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World” too, a surprising addition to the encore.

It’s especially rewarding to hear “Eat For Free” make the close too. Though it is a painful story of drug-addiction, it’s ending tonight in the context of a sold-out show feels more of a communal celebration: "We eat for free to put on a show for everyone”

Setlist

Jealous Girls
Your Mom Is Right
Stupid Face
Better Than Me
Hometown
No Sensitive Man
Last War
From a Cage
Skynz
I Can Change
Kill the Fun
Heaven's Made for Two
Called You Queen
Kismet Kill

Encore:

Blue Diamonds Fall
Eat For Free
Whole Wide World