Rarely if ever have #TEAMw21 seen such an outpouring as has graced this particular album launch facilitated by the good folk at Talentbanq. Savannah Gardner has been on something of a journey and she has gathered an ever growing legion of admirers along the way both professional and public and it seemed that most of them were packed into the Camden Club. The weather outside was foul, so severe that it had made its way into the venue itself where an area had to be cordoned off, it would create a humid atmosphere by the end of the night however nothing was going to stop this event from happening.
It would prove to be the most entertaining of evenings, and anyone who thought that the headliner would be in her dressing room mentally preparing for the big launch obviously doesn't know Savannah! She was greeting fans beforehand, leading the line dancing which was a bonus event to warm up the early birds, before then bopping around to Tommy Hare. In fact even a few minutes before going on stage she was still mingling in the crowd.
The evening would start proper with a set from Tommy Hare, a true colossus of a man, who even an average NBA Basketball player would surely have to look up to, his size was amplified further by being stood next to fiddle player Duncan Menzies. His set seemed very much unencumbered by having any sort of set list with band members seemingly asking what song was next.
With a band consisted of his wife Riley on bass, the aforementioned Duncan on fiddle and on drums the ever smiling Carmen Ruiz Vicente.
Immediately launching into familiar country territory with "Deep In The Heart Of Texas", Tommy's authentic guitar and vocals was matched by Carmen's uptempo drumming and Duncan's prominent fiddle. Keeping up the vibe it was straight into "Boot Scootin' Boogie". Introductions were few and far between but when Tommy did address the crowd his speaking voice was completely at odds with Texas blues singing voice. The pace would slow for "You Can't Just Waltz In Here Like That" with Tommy's vocal eeking out every bit of pathos from the lyrics. It was off to "Hey Little Lady" which would see Tommy cup his hand to his ear to encourage the audience to join in which they duly did.
It continued in a similar vein, good time foot tapping stuff with Tommy well aware his job was to get the crowd well and truly warmed up closing with special guests Dom Glynn and Joe Corbin on a rousing "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys£
Eventually it was time for the main event, and the all star band was assembled, Holly Carter on pedal steel and electric guitar, one time Loud Mountain and now Steady Habits front man Sean Duggan, on acoustic guitar and vocals. Having played drums for Tommy Hare, Carmen would relocate and show another string to her bow by playing keyboards, Bass guitar would be supplied by the albums producer Dale Davies while on backing vocals Brooke Law and Lea La Strega were on hand to add an extra level to the overall sound not forgetting Greg Sheffield on percussion.
The drums and the backing singers set a soulful groove in motion to allow Talentbanq supremo Ray Jones to make Savannah's official introduction, where there was a rare misstep from Ray mixing up the album title name with Bad for Good but it was all in keeping with the giddy atmosphere and heightened anticipation for what was to come. The wide stage at the Camden Club was fully filled as Savannah launched into "Recovering Good Girl", the sound of the record fully realised and more, with Holly Carter throwing in a guitar solo and the backing singers taking things to another level.
The opening six numbers would track the running order of the album, "Lone Rider", came with a strong introduction from Savannah, where she aligned herself with the attitude that Belle Star had, of "Not giving a damn of what people thought". The chorus would see Savannah firing out the lines with some ferocity while the backing vocalists beefed up and smoothed out the sound. Never anything other than a gracious host, Savannah would not just introduce the musicians on stage, there would be a citation, really outlining what they had contributed or the influence that they had provided along the way, none more so than the one for Dale Davies who had been on the journey from busking days to headliner. With each introduction, it really felt like Savannah opened her heart to the assembled audience letting them know what a song was about at a personal level, never more so than on "Wildfire" where once Holly Carter had opened with a lovely pedal steel intro, Savannah would put the song into a real personal context "I wish that someone I used to love chose me instead of her". It only added to the overall drama and made this song of destruction and regrowth even more vivid - you really understood the line, uttered as the band faded away to nothing
"I had to burn"
The following chorus was initially just Savannah, her voice giving every ounce of emotion before the band rejoined to close out. The closing section of piano and pedal steel finally brought this powerhouse of a song to a close
To lighten the mood, the first of many additional musicians on the night, would take to the stage in the shape of Jack Trouble for a guitar solo on "Home Again" which would see Savannah take to dancing with backing vocalists. The easy going swing would then turn into the wild honky tonk of "Tomorrow I'll Be Free" - The Camden Club became a heady mix of furious stomping, clapping and "Yeehaw's" and would witness a driving Dale Davies bass solo. Another of those special introductions came with "Heaven Is A Feeling", with the people that helped create the images of the song, Savannah's parents who were given due credit and appreciation - the backing vocals had a celestial quality to them, the pedal steel shone through - it was a magic moment.
The first break in the album running order would see Dom Glynn take to the stage for a duet on a Dolly Parton / Chet Atkins "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?" also adding a gently picked solo. The guests would keep on coming next up was Esme White - Savannah's "Sister from another mister!. Her voice like Savannah's a little unconventional but nonetheless effective, she would sing mainly with her eyes closed on "Wandering" a highly entertaining duet. The guest section would close with Brooke Law moving from backing vocalist to centre stage taking the first verse of "What's Underneath Your Cowboy Hat?" with Savannah taking the second - they naturally made for a formidable team with their different approaches.
It was back to the official album running order to close out the main part of the evening with a rebel rousing version of "City Of Cowboys", which would see Savannah take the microphone from its stand, holding it in her right hand as her left emphasised each line. her head would shake with determination as she sang. Another turbo charged turn of pace would come with "High Desert Memory" as Savannha set the scene of a showdown in a western town on this fast paced powerhouse of a song, Holly's pedal steel deliciously high in the mix. The next musical guest saw the arrival of Duncan Menzies to add a fiddle and create the perfect gaelic atmosphere for the album's final track "Heartbreak River" which was delivered in the most stirring of versions, with the fiddle and piano joining Savannah and the backing vocals. It was a fitting way to close out the evening.
The last song had started to see the appearance of a few sound gremlins caused by the kick drum - it would delay things for quite a while to the point it seemed that we perhaps should call it a night - but oh boy what a mistake that would have been. If the main course of the evening had rightly been "The Recovering Good Girl", the encores, like the end of a Marvel film gave clues as to what will come next and it seems set to blow socks off!!
Marta Valadon would join on stage to add extra fiddle power, the first "Double Dealer", a glorious set piece of a song that could have come from any time over the last sixty years. Complete with Martha and Duncan adding solos this was a true tour de force.
Then there was the silky smooth soul of "My Favourite Baby" complete with a sultry summer feel and made by having those backing singers - we seem set to be singing this all of 2025 - it even turned into a countried version for the final chorus. The last song "Born In The Wrong Generation" was pure pop meets country - and is another song destined to be big in 2025, Savannah's vocals pure summer on this most wintry of nights - you will be singing this next year for sure next .
A splendid night for a fantastic album and a special lady - hats off to Savannah Gardner
Recovering Good Girl is available to purchase in CD/Vinyl https://savannahgardner.com/savannah-s-shop
PHOTOS BY: COLIN JONES PHOTOGRAPHY
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