Those canny folk at Ark sure know what to tempt this site with - songstress Marshall has come up with a set of own compositions and a strident ap proach to singing and playing various guitars including resonators and slide outings using open A and G. A worn voice coming from a freshfaced female is intriguing..wimpy this artist is not.
Originally from Devon and now London based, talespinner Bex spent time moving around the world as a gambling croupier and back per busking – throw in a mixed social strata background and maybe we can understand how she’s found her way to the blues. Her uncles played so Bex luckily saw live shows from an early age. That’s all it takes, i assure you…..
There is a hint of the Waterson/Carthy about her calm and knowing visage but this material is far from Anglo folk, it’s soiled and soaked in American bar and field influences. Playing insistently but not scrubbing chords to death, there is an edgy attack to Marshall’s playing. She’s a few decades late to open shows for Rory G but more than a few times there’s a touch of the Irish genius’ style about these songs and their delivery. Always her vocal is pitched at the right tone and no aping of the mighty Raitt or Block, that’s a plus..
So she can sing and play, what are the songs like ? ‘Red Light’ is subdued anger and ‘Black Guitar’ a slide lament in no hurry to make its impact. ‘Stand Up’ sounds like a duet for Bex and Tony Joe White…hope he hears it ! TJW’s daughter made a great solo record which he told me about last time we spoke and yes, he’d dig ‘Kitchen Table’. ‘Little Bird’ has an overfamiliar chord progression but the rockin’ ‘Bad Bad Girl’ finds Bex at her most comfortable as a runaway story unfolds, nice falsetto touches.
Conclusion : it ain’t just Anne McCue that is spinning her own take from roots origins
Bex Marshall
Kitchen Table
House Of Mercy Records
****
Stunning second release from one of the UK’s finest female roots rockers, one girl, one guitar and oh what a great voice.
In the UK there are not too many female performers
that possess the magic three attributes, a great singer,
a great songwriter and a great guitarist. Bex Marshall
scores three out of three, her debut album BOOTLACE
received critical acclaim, but with KITCHEN TABLE Bex
has surpassed all expectations. Ten original compositions
beginning with the fine roots rocker and title track
Kitchen Table, a deep down and dirty delta blues about
the place the good old fashioned kitchen table holds in
everyday family life. The song displays lyrical mastery,
wonderful resonator guitar and a whisky soaked vocal
delivery reminiscent of the late great Janis Joplin or
indeed Maggie Bell. Just try and stop your feet tapping
away to this great opener. The pace slows down with
Red Light, just Bex and her guitar on this track, a slow
blues showing just how good a guitar picker she is,
acoustic or electric Bex is a fine example to any young
aspiring female guitarist, this is how it should be done.
If the similar sounding Duffy can be so widely accepted,
there is no reason why Bex Marshall cannot join her
as one of the UK’s leading female singer songwriters,
having the added bonus of being a superb guitarist
with a style all her own. Stand out track for me is the
superb Little Bird, this is one of those tracks that just
stays in your head, it flows so well you almost think
that you have heard it before somewhere, but no,
this is the song’s first outing, showcasing fine electric
lead and a chorus that you will be humming all day.
The more I hear Bex vocal I really cannot understand
why we have not heard more from this wonderful artist,
this could well change with the release of this fine album.
Mention must also be made of some very special guests
who appear on several tracks, Don and Dale Reno from
leading exponents of heavy bluegrass Hayseed Dixie,
their fast paced picking shown to full effect on
Hot Headed Man, and one of my favourite UK musicians
and producers Simon J Alpin, who co-produced the album
with Bex and plays a mean mandolin on Head In The Clouds.
Having said that, who really shines on this album is
Bex Marshall herself, mix the voice of Joplin and the guitar
Stevie Ray and you get a winning combination.
The live experience would be stunning; both in the large
festival arena or an intimate small show, the effect would
still be the same. From the information that accompanied
KITCHEN TABLE Bex will be touring the UK in the summer
to promote this superb release, definitely a show not to
be missed and certainly an album to add to your collection.
JHS
Langdon Court Hotel Devon
REVIEW: Bex Marshall in Plymouth
She’s just returned from a hugely successful month-long tour of the states which culminated in supporting her pals Hayseed Dixie in their South Carolina home region in front of thousands.
On May 21 she’s hosting a launch party for her brand new album in her adoptive city of London, but in-between Plymouth girl Bex Marshall managed to find a couple of dates in her hectic schedule to showcase her new songs to the home crowd.
On Sunday night she made her debut appearance at the Barbican Blues Bar where she received a very warm reception from blues fans at the packed venue, then on Monday night she played an rather more intimate affair at the elegant Langdon Court Hotel in Wembury.
Completely unfazed by performing to an audience a fraction the size she’s used to, Bex told us that however large the crowd, she imagines everyone sitting around her kitchen table – and Kitchen Table is the very title she has given new album.
Tracks from it comprised most of the first half of the set, with her easy inter-song banter detailing the inspiration for each idea.
A hugely charismatic performer, whose husky vibrato-vocals naturally incline her to sing country blues, Bex fills her venue as if performing with an entire band.
She coaxes amazing sounds from her resonator guitar, which has the warmth and feel of an acoustic but the gutsiness of an electric instrument.
In her hands it is unbelievably versatile, blending not only blues and country, but rock, roots and ragtime.
By incorporating basslines and percussion rhythms together with lead parts, Bex achieves a fabulously full fat sound.
The slow but strident and rather menacing Red Light, the frantically furious Hot Headed Man – imitating stunning album performances from Hayseed Dixie’s Reno Brothers’ on banjo and mandolin – plus the lyrically evocative title track showcased Bex’s impressive song-writing ability as well as her musical prowess.
But the slow bluesy Black Guitar, with plaintive vocal and achingly beautiful slide guitar-work topped even these and proved most popular track of the night.
After a first half of all originals, the second set included a few familiar favourites that inspired young Bex to pick up a guitar in the first place.
From the poppy Sunny Afternoon to jazz standard Summertime and from 12 Bar blues classic High Heel Sneakers to a fab finale instrumental of Duelling Banjos (in honour of the Reno Brothers whose dad composed the tune), all received the gutsy Bex treatment.
Based on this performance, it’s little wonder that the Americans have taken her to their hearts – now surely it’s time to take more notice of her back home.
CLARE ROBINSON Plymouth Evening Herald
Solfest August 2007
Bex went on stage at 10.30 on the Dry Stone Stage, solo! she had an encore and everybody missed the first two tracks of the Levellers!!...Bex has a terrific voice and she plays guitar like a goddess a cocktail of Janis and Hendrix"...
Alan Whittaker Booker/Promoter
St Annes Castle
Review: "Come along and see Bex, you'll really enjoy it !" said the venue promoter. I've heared this about many new acts over the years that I've lost count and mostly I would be disappointed, but this was a seriously good piece of advice that I'm very happy was followed.
After seeing countless gigs, I can honestly say that there are very few talents out there that I've seen for the first time that will hold my attention for the entire duration of the set. Bex puts forward an honest and joyous attitude of loving her craft along with a great guitar style and an incredible voice. Whether it's her own material (which I highly commend and thoroughly enjoyed) or renditions on classics that really do work in her own style, she holds her own in every court as a unique talent. Whether it's singing all out or on more sensual material, she carries it off every time without fail. You can tell when an artist is the real deal and Bex is without any doubt at all. A real diamond in talent and personality. Roll on the next live installment !
Dave apam from St Annes Castle
Borderline singer/songwriter festival
Review: Have just seen Bex last night at The Borderline. She was an
unexpected and very appreciated bonus performer on the bill with Dar
Williams & Lyn Miles.
Bex was superb, I am a fan of great guitarists and I have never heard
anyone make the instrument produce sounds like Bex got out of hers.It
seemed like she had three guitars at times. Fantastic.
Just disappointed that Bex had no CDs on sale. No problems now I've
found the web site.
Will look forward to seeing you again.
John Gibson
another happy chappy..............
.........."Last night was really amazing, Bex was fabulous, really good to hear a powerful female blues singer/guitarist, she looks good on the eye too"!!!
Mac
St Anne's Castle, Chelmsford
January Friday 13th 2006 not unlucky for us………………
Bex covered all the bases in the blues/rock genre from the Beatles to AC/DC plus some blues standards in her very own style, bringing a new freshness & passion to these oft covered songs. Her own songs are brilliant storytelling gems, her voice wonderful and versatile, able to sound Joplinesque one minute then soulful & sexy the next. Her guitar playing is full of drive, complexity, beauty and skill. She’s a big personality who lives & loves the music. Bex is beautiful………. great gig………. thoroughly enjoyed by all. ABSOLUTELY not to be missed – tell all your friends....
http://www.jamiewilliams.org.uk/
Hayseed Dixie Tour
Review: Juy 31st.... CLUB RIGA Southend... Supporting the great HAYSEED
DIXIE....
Bex stood on the stage alone, with just her guitar and microphone, full
of confidence,and oozing sexuality, She went straight into the first
number full of powerful guitar and a voice not unlike the great Bonnie
Rait... Her songs were very intimate and personal and were performed with
lots of energy... Her introductions to the songs were full of harmless
and very funny innuendos.... Plus her cover of The Who's Pinball
Wizzard was completely original.... I personally loved every minute of her
set, and was a hard act to follow.....
Dave Balcombe St Anne's Castle, Great Leighs Chelmsford, Essex
one liner REVIEWS
"The Delays were also impressive, but there were a few jems to be found on the Borderline stage. Bex Marshall, Laura Veirs to name two."New Fan, The Fleadh 2004, Finsbury Park
