I’m literally just back from an amazing evening at Soho Theatre to see Our Lady J’s ‘Gospel for the Godless’, an intimate collection of gospel and electro tinged songs, all spiritual, political and sensual to the core. I’d heard rumblings of Our Lady J when she came to these shores last year and did some gigs at the South Bank Centre, rapidly becoming the darling of the artsy gay set. Thankfully she’s still very down to earth, sharing tales of her upbringing and musical history with a knowing wink and a flick of her immaculate tresses. I always worry when acts that have started on the fringes such as Bistrotheque and Duckie (which she visited on her first visit to London) move into the West End and whilst some of the crowd seemed like ‘A gays’ to me, she was definitely preaching to the converted. The show was a moving blend of clever lyrics and heartfelt emotion – there’s not the arch knowingness or Bourgeois and Maurice here, nor the world weary sadness Justin Bond so beautifully and brokenly conveys – just brilliantly crafted and arranged soulful tunes. (I say 'just' - I'd give my right arm to write as well as she does.)
Some time ago I downloaded arguably her most popular song to date ‘Pink Prada Purse’ (which you have to hear to believe) and it’s a staple song on my iPod. A tale of revenge on handsome ex lovers, it sums up relationships in a neat way, I think – if only we could all get away with murder in such style!
Tonight and for the rest of her London run, she is joined by the London Show Choir, featuring the lovely Nathan Taylor who I have had the privilege of working with recently and the ebullient Cat Millsom, who had the dubious pleasure of featuring in both productions of my show ‘Postcards from God - The Sister Wendy Musical’. While having a post show tipple with Mr. Taylor after, Our Lady J stepped out and proved to be an utter delight – as charming, witty and funny as she is onstage.
Her new album shows a change of direction, bringing electronic elements into her gospel sound and it is really beautiful, powerful stuff – I downloaded ‘Hurt’, her cover of the Nine Inch Nails song made mainstream by Johnny Cash and it moved me to tears on the night bus (though admittedly I was in a slightly fragile mood this evening). If you can make one of her shows here in London or anywhere else, I’d highly recommend Our Lady J to anyone with ears that work.
