Weyes Blood at the Dome
The crowd at the Dome, a surprisingly spacious venue nestled on top of the Boston Arms pub in Tufnell Park, stood patiently watching as a figure dressed in a black cloak lit fake candles scattered on the stage. A long process, the effort finally paid off when the stage was illuminated in orange light and Weyes Blood appeared in a pale blue satin suit, looking like a ghostly figure heading some kind of séance.
Weyes Blood is otherwise known as Natalie Mering, a musician from California, she has released four studio albums to date, the latest being last year’s Front Row Seat to Earth.
Mering is a serene presence in the room; when she first appears she comes alone, and sings an arresting rendition of Can’t Go Home from her new record. Although her songs are sombre, mostly detailing the anguish of disintegrating relationships, the singer herself is upbeat on stage, joking with the crowd and her band throughout the performance.
But this doesn’t detract from the emotional impact of her melancholy, vocoder-heavy folk-inflected ballads, such as Can’t Go Home, Diary, and Be Free, which are soothing yet unsettling, with subtly humorous lyrics.
A highlight is from her latest release: Seven Words, an intimate and sleepy track has a timeless sound. As Mering interacts with the audience it seems that only a small group of dedicated fans are familiar with her older albums, and most have come to hear songs from Front Row Seat to Earth. There isn’t much energy in the crowd, but this is not necessarily a negative; rather, it seems the audience are entranced by Weyes Blood’s gothic intensity and deep, lulling vocals.
Joanna Blyth
Photos: Mike Garnell
For further information about Weyes Blood and future events visit here.
Watch the video for Seven Words here:
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