"Girls shouldn’t play guitar like that!"
Chantel McGregor – Nice 'N' Sleazy, Glasgow, 30th September 2016
Chantel McGregor – Nice 'N' Sleazy, Glasgow, 30th September 2016
The title of this review, above, refers to a comment received a good few years ago now by a young and burgeoning talent called Chantel McGregor while she rattled off some Bonnie Raitt, Steve Vai and Jimi Hendrix with ease.
And that's because she can, should and does play guitar "like that," developing from those early showcases in to one of the most accomplished rock guitarists I’ve seen or heard.
She is also capable of putting on the most brilliant of shows in the smallest of venues…
On a wet and windy 'Weegie' night at the end of September Yorkshire lass Chantel McGregor returned to Nice 'N' Sleazy (one of Glasgow's many basement venues) to entertain her north of the border fans; and right from the off she had the crowd in the palms of her hands with her guitar skills and warm, engaging and chatty personality.
But Chantel McGregor is not just a six-string force to be reckoned with – she also has the voice of an angel (think of the late and wonderful Eva Cassidy and (don't laugh) a young Olivia Newton-John); Chantel's voice is so pure, clear and emotive that it’s capable of moving the hardest heart to tears.
Opening in solo acoustic mode Chantel immediately tugged at the heartstrings with stunning renditions of 'Home' and 'Anaesthetize,' both from her excellent second, and current, album Lose Control.
Following the acoustic double the crowd was treated to what became a running joke throughout the set as Chantel regales the audience with her story of having heard the old Scottish Hogmanay staple 'Donald Where's Yer Troosers' for the first time ever that day.
Cue several dozen Scots bursting into song and the band (now all on stage) trying to join in, causing even more laughter. If only more gigs were this much fun!
After the light relief the pace picks up with 'Inconsolable.'
Chantel changes the acoustic for her electric halfway through the song and lets rip with an extended solo, stretching the song out to almost fifteen minutes and causing a number of jaws to hit the floor, such is the calibre of her playing.
Highlights from the rest of the set include a blistering 'Freefalling' and 'I'm No Good for You' (with its nod to Smokestack Lightnin' in the intro) from debut album Like No Other and full-on renditions of 'Your Fever', 'Killing Time' and 'Southern Belle' from Lose Control.
The band also get the chance to shine on a ten minute instrumental jam which leaves the crowd completely blown away, all the more remarkable when you consider the band were working with a very short notice, stand-in bass player for the show (introduced simply as "Joe," he had only met the band the day before).
A beautiful take of 'Walk on Land' follows the jam, closing out the main set in fine style.
The encores bring more audience participation, fun and laughter with Chantel breaking into The Proclaimers '500 Miles', and in a fairly convincing Scottish accent.
The final song of the night is one this reviewer and fan had been hoping to hear, a song that Chantel McGregor has made her own, the Fleetwood Mac classic 'Rihannon.'
It’s a song perfectly suited to that wonderful voice.
Something that strikes me from seeing Chantel McGregor live and listening to her music, is the way she has been unfairly shunted and pigeon-holed into the blues rock genre.
While the blues is an undoubtedly strong influence on her music it is far from the full picture and, to be honest, it rather does her an injustice.
The music of Chantel McGregor ranges from acoustic singer/ songwriter to full-on heavy rock, with her bluesier material sitting comfortably in the middle.
Nor is her voice that of a traditional female blues rock artist such as, say, Joanne Shaw Taylor – as mentioned earlier Chantel has a pure and clear voice that works perfectly for the material she writes and performs.
In summary, catch this fantastic talent up close and personal in the small clubs while you can, because if talent does truly will out and there’s any musical justice in the world it won't be long until Chantel McGregor is playing bigger venues or on an audience widening support slot.
And if anyone says to you "girls shouldn’t play guitar like that!" you know exactly what to tell ‘em…
Campbell Stewart
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credit: Howard Rankin
FabricationsHQ’s Feature Interview Article with Chantel McGregor:
http://www.fabricationshq.com/chantel-mcgregor-march-2016.html
And that's because she can, should and does play guitar "like that," developing from those early showcases in to one of the most accomplished rock guitarists I’ve seen or heard.
She is also capable of putting on the most brilliant of shows in the smallest of venues…
On a wet and windy 'Weegie' night at the end of September Yorkshire lass Chantel McGregor returned to Nice 'N' Sleazy (one of Glasgow's many basement venues) to entertain her north of the border fans; and right from the off she had the crowd in the palms of her hands with her guitar skills and warm, engaging and chatty personality.
But Chantel McGregor is not just a six-string force to be reckoned with – she also has the voice of an angel (think of the late and wonderful Eva Cassidy and (don't laugh) a young Olivia Newton-John); Chantel's voice is so pure, clear and emotive that it’s capable of moving the hardest heart to tears.
Opening in solo acoustic mode Chantel immediately tugged at the heartstrings with stunning renditions of 'Home' and 'Anaesthetize,' both from her excellent second, and current, album Lose Control.
Following the acoustic double the crowd was treated to what became a running joke throughout the set as Chantel regales the audience with her story of having heard the old Scottish Hogmanay staple 'Donald Where's Yer Troosers' for the first time ever that day.
Cue several dozen Scots bursting into song and the band (now all on stage) trying to join in, causing even more laughter. If only more gigs were this much fun!
After the light relief the pace picks up with 'Inconsolable.'
Chantel changes the acoustic for her electric halfway through the song and lets rip with an extended solo, stretching the song out to almost fifteen minutes and causing a number of jaws to hit the floor, such is the calibre of her playing.
Highlights from the rest of the set include a blistering 'Freefalling' and 'I'm No Good for You' (with its nod to Smokestack Lightnin' in the intro) from debut album Like No Other and full-on renditions of 'Your Fever', 'Killing Time' and 'Southern Belle' from Lose Control.
The band also get the chance to shine on a ten minute instrumental jam which leaves the crowd completely blown away, all the more remarkable when you consider the band were working with a very short notice, stand-in bass player for the show (introduced simply as "Joe," he had only met the band the day before).
A beautiful take of 'Walk on Land' follows the jam, closing out the main set in fine style.
The encores bring more audience participation, fun and laughter with Chantel breaking into The Proclaimers '500 Miles', and in a fairly convincing Scottish accent.
The final song of the night is one this reviewer and fan had been hoping to hear, a song that Chantel McGregor has made her own, the Fleetwood Mac classic 'Rihannon.'
It’s a song perfectly suited to that wonderful voice.
Something that strikes me from seeing Chantel McGregor live and listening to her music, is the way she has been unfairly shunted and pigeon-holed into the blues rock genre.
While the blues is an undoubtedly strong influence on her music it is far from the full picture and, to be honest, it rather does her an injustice.
The music of Chantel McGregor ranges from acoustic singer/ songwriter to full-on heavy rock, with her bluesier material sitting comfortably in the middle.
Nor is her voice that of a traditional female blues rock artist such as, say, Joanne Shaw Taylor – as mentioned earlier Chantel has a pure and clear voice that works perfectly for the material she writes and performs.
In summary, catch this fantastic talent up close and personal in the small clubs while you can, because if talent does truly will out and there’s any musical justice in the world it won't be long until Chantel McGregor is playing bigger venues or on an audience widening support slot.
And if anyone says to you "girls shouldn’t play guitar like that!" you know exactly what to tell ‘em…
Campbell Stewart
FabricationsHQ
Photo Credit: Howard Rankin
FabricationsHQ’s Feature Interview Article with Chantel McGregor:
http://www.fabricationshq.com/chantel-mcgregor-march-2016.html