Paloma Faith at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham Review
Paloma Faith
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
10 November 2014
Reviewed by Victoria Moore
On Monday we visited the Symphony Hall in Birmingham to see the wonderful Paloma Faith. Entrance to the Symphony Hall is impressive, it is has multiple halls inside which created a real sense of atmosphere as the glamorous symphony attendees in black tie sashayed through to their hall.
As the hall filled up, I was surprised of the complete mix of ages, sexes and styles of the attendees at the concert.
Supporting act Brett Dennen arrived on stage with no introduction but the barefooted beats and smooth American country twang vocals set a calm atmosphere as ticket holders continued to take their seats. The well mixed sound in the hall offered an insight of the perfection to come.
Brett’s nervous tune up breaks were taken with slight confused amusement, but I’m sure on cd in the car the tunes would be easy to sing along to. Stage prescience could be worked on, but then knowing a firework like Paloma a Faith is following you perhaps just the art of the music is enough.
Quirkily odd, at times it wasn’t all together obvious if folk were laughing with him or slightly at him. But I know I’ve never before been asked to join in and sing a song about my dog.
After the interval the bright monochromatic set came alive as the pint sized vocal star took to the stage in a routine with her backing singers. The stage was filled with a plethora of musicians including three backing singers, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone, and a pianist all dressed in every available type of black and white attire. This swiftly progresses into the opening track which gets the audience going, followed by the crowd pleasing hit – ‘Picking up the pieces’ which showcases Paloma’s vast vocal range excellently.
Mingled with tracks off the new album A Perfect Contradiction – the Outsiders Edition which feature hints of jazz and soul alongside her gravely R&B vocal styling.
Banter is plentiful and free flowing throughout the show with genuine conversation and insight into her day to day life and random antics, in a style only usually found in stand up comedians. She has a bewitching quality that grabs your attention and makes you think she’d be a fun friend.
Inviting the return of Brett Dennan the pair performed a beautiful cover version of a Van Morrison song ‘Crazy love’.
Followed by Paloma showcasing some superb new songs from the Outsiders edition such as ‘leave while I’m not looking’.
The band make you feel the desire to get up on stage and sing too, and no how matter how many TV shows you’ve seen her on it still takes you by surprise when a voice like that resonates around the room.
Although the ambiance may differ from the scale of concerts she is now accustomed especially with the audience being seated for this performance, for me, being seated enhanced the performance and added to the enjoyment of the evening.
With the opening beats of her new single ‘Ready for the Good Life’ the crowd were off their feet and joining in as desired. The lighting mirrored this change in mood with brighter colours and a wide variety of ass shaking, clapping and dance moves from the audience.
The beautiful track ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ – which captivates like the best of Christmas ballads was chosen to close the show but after copious applause they all returned and the evening ended on a classic crowd pleaser ‘River Deep, Mountain High’ originally performed by a lady with nearly as big a range as Paloma and as much of a passion for big heels and short skirts.
For someone who was in hospital on a drip two days before, you really couldn’t tell, Paloma Faith is a true performer.
Thoroughly enjoyable evening and I would highly recommend this show to fans and no fans alike.
Rating: 5/5 
Paloma Faith is currently on tour. For more information and tour dates visit www.palomafaith.com.
For other shows at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham visit www.thsh.co.uk.
Symphony Hall. 32 Broad Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B1 2EA | 0121 345 0600
