Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble at South Street Arts Centre in Reading 27th May 2017

Inexplicably this is my first visit to South Street Arts Centre though I've lived in the Reading area off and on for more years than space allows. After this visit, though, I will plan to return again especially to see bands but probably other gigs. Why? It is a great size - a really intimate venue in which to see bands - and a really friendly venue, like seeing a gig in a room in your own home (assuming you had a fairly large spacious home).

The support act was a band called Mauno from Canada who've been supporting Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble on this leg of their tour. A four-piece with 2 guitars, bass and drums playing I guess some kind of hybrid of pop and rock with Talking Heads-style rhythmic shifts. Not being familiar with either them or their songs it took a couple of numbers to get into their sound, but as the set progressed it became clear there was something interesting going on, both lyrically and musically. 

In such a small venue it was great to see the interplay between the musicians and the way they played off each other.  The bass lines played by Eliza Niemi were different to the normal pedestrian rock style which added interest to the songs along with the fun guitar interplay between the lead of Scott Boudreau and the, mostly, rhythm of Nick Everett.  Mostly vocals were led by Nick though Eliza took the lead on a couple of songs - some nice harmony work between them. Not knowing the songs makes picking set highlights tricky, but there was one called 'Hand' which stood out (can't find it listed anywhere, so I may have misheard) and, I think, 'Champs'.

Listen to their album 'Rough Master' here.

A little while after their warmly received set was over they came out into the audience - I spoke to all the band except Eliza; Adam, the drummer, came out to man the merchandise table - not that they had much left from the tour - and chatted.

Whilst merchandise was being merchandised members of Laetitia Sadier Sound Ensemble, including Laetitia herself were on stage setting up their equipment...and then Laetitia was centre stage asking us all to come closer, and so there I was, front right, within 10 feet of the stage.  After a brief intro they were straight into 'Undying Love for Humanity', from the new album 'Finding Me Finding You', and I was blown away.  Being so close to the band, being able to see the expressions on their faces as they played and interacted added so much joy to the experience.  We were so close, the thought of taking photos during the set seemed just wrong - there was no distance between band and audience (hence the heading photo is from Berlin earlier this year, not Reading.)

Next up was 'Love Captive', another new song, and as the set was played I was excited by how great the band sounded live - better than on record - with all the musicians playing different instruments and singing. There was so much space but also great interplay between the instruments - the joy on the face of drummer / percussionist / keyboard player / vocalist Emmanuel Mario when he let rip on the drums was infectious.  Nina Savary on keys and vocals along with Xavi Munoz on bass / vocals / keys also interacted well with Laetitia whose voice was on great form.

Set highlights were 'Committed', 'Echo Port', an absolutely spellbinding version of 'Find Me the Pulse of the Universe', great vocal interplay between Nina an Laetitia on 'Double Voice, Extra Voice' and the breathtaking encore 'Then, I Will Love You Again'.

It was also good to see that members of Mauno joined the audience to watch the set, though they had see it on previous dates.

Here's the full set list, as far as memory recalls...

  Undying Love For Humanity

  Love Captive
  The Woman With The Invisible Necklace
  Dry Fruit
  Committed
  Echo Port
  Reflectors
  Galactic Emergence
  Find Me the Pulse of the Universe
  Sacred Project
  Double Voice, Extra Voice

  Encore:

  Then, I Will Love You Again  


In an ecstatic state post-set, there was one more buzz to be had.  Laetitia came into the audience to talk and run the merchandise stall.  I had a chat with her, told her how much I'd enjoyed the set and the small venue, and she said they'd be back again soon. She also sold me the t-shirt I'm wearing as I type this. 

Listen to all the tracks from the set that are available on YouTube:

The whole evening was a great advert for live music.  I can't wait to see the Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble again, but for now it's back to the records...