Jessie Buckley + Bernard Butler, 'We've Run the Distance' @ Lafayette, London, 17.6.22

How lucky I was to witness Jessie Buckley + Bernard Butler's first full show (they'd played at the Green Note in Camden last month but only for a handful of lottery winners) to the public *on the day of their album release*! The release was also delayed and so it worked out perfectly.

Lafayette bizarrely is in a new build directly across from my old office but it's a delightful venue. And was I grateful for the air con of a new building on a day of 34 degrees. It's a lovely room, shallow and longer with a mezzanine above.

I really liked the 3 songs JB + BB had released and was excited to see this wonderful and surprising pairing live though I wondered if I would love it as even though Jessie's voice is out of this world, I thought the songs and vibe would be perhaps too slow and low-energy for me.

Boy, was I wrong. I was enraptured from the start. Jessie of course has the easy breezy natural confidence of someone who's been on stage and in front of cameras for many years. She is also very Irish and thus HILARIOUS and cheeky as heck. She had us laughing throughout much of the evening. And that voice - wow. She barely has to open her mouth and lean her head back slightly and this huge musicality soars out.

I really liked every song and loved most. The pair of them were backed by an excellent cast of musicians and singers, making each song as fulsome and textured as possible.

I think this is the most magical pairing - Jessie and Bernard. Maybe centuries back in the Celtic bloodline they are somehow related and today are each posessed of extraordinary artistic and musical talent.

This song is a bluesy, country-ish stomper that has the vibe of the songs from 'Wild Rose', the movie I first saw Jessie in. Bernard joins in on vocals and is having fun. The whole band is almost levitating off the stage with buzzing energy. I love the way the song ends first with Bernard and then Jessie flicking her head away.