Review: Alice Gold @The Ruby Lounge – March 8

By Liam Barnes

Nine months after a successful support slot with American sister act The Pierces, Alice Gold came of age with a fantastic headlining act at The Ruby Lounge.

Featuring a host of new tracks mixed alongside plenty of hits from critically acclaimed album Seven Rainbows, the artful concoction of flower-power pop and hard-edged rock were enthusiastically received by the crowd.

With a hard summer’s touring the festival circuit behind her, the radiant Gold was in fabulous form from the off, a hard-rocking version of ‘How Long Can these Street Be Empty?’ followed by a rousing rendition of ‘Fairweather Friend’.

The gig was a powerful vehicle for displaying the varied talents and delights from Seven Rainbows, with the bluesy ‘Conversations of Love’ segueing effortlessly into masterful performances of album favourites ‘And You’ll Be There’ and ‘Seasons Change’.

A host of new tracks were also showcased; YouTube eye-catcher ‘Playing with Fire’ was a particular highlight, with multi-instrumentalist Matt Parker’s country-tinged slide guitar beautifully intertwining with the psychedelic undercurrent of much of Gold’s music.

The confidence of Gold and her new-look line-up burst through in a freewheeling cover of Billy Fury classic ‘Wondrous Place’ – featured in a recent Carling advert – and a jaunty run through of ‘Cry Cry Cry’, before another tantalising exhibition of new songs whetted the appetite further.

An excellent set was ended on a raucous high, with hit single ‘Runaway Love’ chased down with the over-driven power of ‘Orbiter’ – as the lengthy queues seeking signed merchandise proved, this is a woman who truly knows how to rock.

If anyone else sat through the embarrassing debacle that was the Brit Awards and despaired at modern music, then Alice Gold provides the perfect antidote – she may be clearly influenced by the classics, but the vibrant modern interpretation deserves the sort of wall-to-wall coverage currently centred on Adele. She’s not merely ‘one to watch’, she’s one to cherish.