| Ruth Wyand: Christchurch Folk Club (NZ) *** |
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I wasn't sure what to expect when I made my virgin foray to Christchurch Folk Club, in their new venue "The Commerce Club" on Kilmore Street, on the eve of Guinness soaked Paddy's Day. I found that folk clubs are clearly similar whether one is in the northern or southern hemisphere, the same mix of tweed waistcoat clad fifty-somethings, the same raffle, the only thing that was missing was the zest of Edinburgh Folk Club's Paddy Bort to announce what proved to be a surprisingly good act, American guitarist, singer and songwriter Ruth Wyand in her third tour of New Zealand. I must confess that when I arrived and heard the dulcet tones of an American with a Dobro doing the sound check my spirits lowered as I expected to be subjected to some overly-emotional, country and western, line dancing type of nonsense. Thankfully Ruth proved me wrong with a fiesty, fire and brimstone, JD-drenched and bleached by years on the road, Jannis Joplinesque voice matched by remarkably powerful fingerpicking on her guitars and a humorous stage personilty layered with entertaining annecdaotes of life on the road as a travelling folkie. The first thing that strikes you when listening to Ruth is her powerful playing on guitar and Dobro (the latter sporting a hub cap which was the only part of her ex-husband's car Wyand manged to scoop!). Her fingerstyle technique has great latitude due to the variety of tunings she uses, combined with swing picking and slide guitar. Drawing on country, folk and American roots music she moved through a number of classics (from Janis Joplin to Jimi Hendrix) along with her own offerings reflecting a compassionate nature and weather-beaten personilty. While I rue missing Andy Irvine at the same venue several weeks previous, Ruth Wyand proved to be a great initial showcase for the type of acts this far-flung folk club can attract. |