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| Iris DeMent with Pint and Fan |
What a treat. A simple unvarnished country gig from a singer who's up there with Patsy Cline - although she sees Tammy Wynette as her musical exemplar. She cut an unglamorous figure - looking dumpy in a shapeless dress accompanied by the compulsory cowboy boots. Her strong characterful face was hiding behind stern librarian's glasses. She was clearly nervous at the start and said so. She played piano mostly but did a few numbers later on guitar. They were all her own compositions and largely new to me. An 8-minute version of the slow and anguished
Out of the Fire was the highlight, though
Before the Colours Fade ran it close. She hung around afterwards drinking a pint of Guinness and chatting amiably to her adoring fans. (A full house by the way). A class act in every respect.
