Is anybody ready for raunchy Country Rock with an aftertaste of saucy Americana flavours? Janet Devlin and her cross gender demographic of devoted fans are. They sold out this cosy club situated to the rear of what was the legendary and much missed Astoria venue.
Devlin is a veteran of the country circuit since appearing in the 2011 series of X Factor and releasing her debut album, Hide & Seek, in 2013. Her music industry profile as a notably strong artist really took off following her third album release, Emotional Rodeo.
A stint in rehab further shaped her backstory and songwriting abilities into which she digs down deep in her live shows.
I first lighted upon Devlin supporting Russell Crowe at the Shepherds Bush Empire, no less, and she easily competed with this Gladiator of the screen.
Tonight, she arrived onstage wearing bespoke denim shorts and whipped her acoustic guitar and mandolin musicians into fiery action on catchy opening tune, Emotional Rodeo and All My Exes. Further punchy tunes included Break A Man including the unforgettable line, ‘If I can break a horse, then I can break a man’, which reveals her forceful and humorous onstage presence.
An outlier cool version of Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler backed up her artistic bones. Not forgetting the saucy introduction to Fur Coat that instructed the many men in the room on women’s ways…she possesses the voice of an angel with a captivating devilish delivery. With new music due for release, Janet Devlin is a star reborn.
WORDS & PIC: Paul Davies
