one4review | On 22, Aug 2024

Mesmerising! The barefooted Contessa of Laurel Canyon IS in town.

It’s 1976. Canadian singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell has been out on the road for some time and is glad to be home. She’s just completed her soon to be classic album Hejira and wants to get in front of a small audience to dust the cobwebs off and maybe try out some new songs prior to release.
You are one of the lucky ones with a golden ticket to this intimate gig.

Firstly, this venue is perfect. The stage is set with acoustic/electric guitars and a dulcimer, an instrument Joni pioneered in the early part of her career.

Then Joni (Rainee Blake) enters stage right, thanks everyone for coming and starts with California from her seminal 1971 Blue album. You almost feel the sunshine on your face and hair stands up on the back of your neck.

This is not a greatest hits run through, this is a Joni performance from that time. In between the likes of Free Man in Paris, A Case Of You, Woodstock and Chelsea Morning you hear stories of self doubt, loss, hope, illness love and anecdotes like playing with Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder Review.

The audience loved it. The magic weaved in the room was evident as couples squeezed hands as tears rolled down faces as she “premiered” Coyote from the yet to be released album.

Australian Rainee Blake is a revelation. Looks and musically for this hour she is simply ’76 Joni, with the searing vocals and masterful musicianship. Plus she captures Joni’s fun side too.

Grab a Big Yellow Taxi (or Uber) into into Joni’s world of ’76. Potentially the show of the Fringe.

*****
Guest Reviewer Steven
Le Monde – Dirty Martini
17.30 (1hr)
Until 26th August