It is not often that an artist takes to the stage and asks "Is everyone warm enough?" yet such were the Baltic temperatures on the ICON Stage on Friday afternoon that greeted Kerri Watt. - "We're freezing and we're not taking our jackets off!" and having already played one set on the even more exposed Big Entrance Stage - who could blame her? This would be a career spanning set one that would have a keen eye on showing where she is now as well as touching on former glories some of which would get a highly successful makeover.
The last time the Kerri visited C2C it was with a full band promoting songs that would appear on her excellent "Neptune's Daughter" release, today she was flanked by just a keyboard player and an additional guitarist with Kerri herself on acoustic guitar duties. That same album would provide the opener "Band Of Gold" - her own composition not a Freda Payne cover! Kerri's sound immediately made an impression as being different - having heard mainly acoustic guitars all day, the sound of both an electric guitar and a piano made for a refreshing change. Kerri sported a broad smile and was in fine voice immediately hitting the big notes on the infectious chorus.
The same album also gave rise to "Kissing Fools", a Jeff Cohen co write, it saw Kerri switch her guitar for a tambourine and after a delightful piano and guitar intro, Kerri's soulful sound was once more reverberating around the shops on the first floor of the ICON stage. complete with a tambourine shimmer - it was irresistible good time music. For Kerri's long term fans there was a marvellous rocked up version of "Long Way Home" which saw it successfully reborn. The sight of Kerri crying out at full throttle
"You know it - You know it" was a joy to behold."
Replete with a storming guitar solo this was one of our highlights of the whole weekend let alone this set.
Kerri has always been a smart writer just listen out for references in her songs that sit there like "Easter eggs" waiting for the knowing listener to pick up on. Her new song "Whiskey" managed to bring together two places far apart united by one drink "Whiskey" namely Tennessee and Scotland. Written on the plane home from Nashville, this song highlighting the differences between how the two treat the same drink could work as a great calling card for future US trips. It's not quite in it's final format but there is certainly something there to work with.
Another new song "Never Have I Ever" was a trip down memory lane to the lies that she and her brother used to tell their parents. Kerri was quick to disassociate herself from having "Stolen a car" one of the misdemeanours quoted in the lyrics. It would see Kerri return to enthusiastic tambourine duties.
Naturally Kerri's excellent new single "Predictable" got an airing, with the three musicians imbuing this stripped back version with all the elements that make the single so enjoyable, By now the temperature was distinctly icy and it was only Kerri's enthusiasm keeping us warm. To close out the set, there was the anthemic title track of "Neptune's Daughter" with it's "Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah" chorus, it felt like we should all be waving our phones but for it being broad daylight.
It was great to see Kerri on such tip top form - if you missed her there was a tease of an announcement coming soon of a special London date - make sure you support this special UK talent.