KIM RICHEY AT BASEMENT DISCS - 19 MARCH 2010
Kim Richey has been to this country several times in the past; in 2002 along with Fred Eaglesmith, Jim Lauderdale, Jason McCoy and Audrey Auld, she was part of a travelling singer songwriter showcase, which was warmly received by all who witnessed it and it was the first time many of us had seen the artists live. Fred Eaglesmith has of course returned many times.
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Kim was back last year for a limited tour with Felicity Urquhart, but this time round is performing solo shows all over the country, appearing for the first time at Port Fairy Folk Festival. I caught her playing live at a Basement Discs in -store last week, and though it was short, it was very sweet. Kim performed solo, simply accompanying herself on guitar. She has a new CD called Wreck Your Wheels, and she treated the small but appreciative audience at Basement Discs to four songs from it, and also performed two from her previous album Chinese Boxes. An excellent song writer, Kim and has collaborated with singers like Trisha Yearwood, Radney Foster, our own Felicity Urquhart and Sydney artist Karl Broadie, and her songs have been covered by many artists including the Dixie Chicks. |
She has a sweet voice that is a pleasure to listen to, with a timbre that gives it character and expression.
The first song performed was the title track of her CD Chinese Boxes, then Careful How You Go, a song inspired by a snowfall in her home town of New York. She described the next tune as a mean song, written especially for an unnamed female artist. Despite the particular artist having just given birth to a baby, Kim eschewed writing a lullaby and instead wrote the bitter sweet anti love song Not A Love Like This.
Once In Your Life was co written with Karl Broadie, who recorded it on his last CD One Million Emeralds and the next song, A Word To The Wise was written with Boo Hewerdine, currently touring with Eddie Reader.
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Kim rounded off her mini show with the title track of her brand new CD Wreck Your Wheels, introducing the song with a reference to train travel. Apparently she has been travelling interstate by train instead of by air. Despite her expectations of a smooth and easy ride in the comfort of a sleeper, she found sleep hard to come by with the rocking of the train on country tracks, and the hooting as it whizzed past crossings, disturbing her rest constantly. She wryly admitted that she still had three trips by rail to face. Still, I was glad to have the opportunity of seeing her perform live again, having been one of those who saw her in the singer songwriters showcase back in 2002. Kim will be performing in a double bill with Eddie Reader at Spensers Live on 25th March. |
Song List
Chinese Boxes
Careful How You Go
Not A Love Like This
Once In Your Life
A Word To The Wise
Wreck Your Wheels
Review and photos by Anne Sydenham