Clare Bowditch

The Old Museum 11.10.12

Clare Bowditch’s devoted following regard her as an Australian treasure: and rightly so. Filling the Old Museum, Bowditch was supported by Andrew Morris and the Royal Jelly Dixieland Band.

Morris opened with his acoustic set. Distinctly Australian in the vein of Powderfinger and Passenger, Morris has a knack for playing the tambourine with his feet. Scruffy and loveable, his solo records are worthy of investigation.

Morris was swiftly followed by the Royal Jelly Dixieland Band, a sextet of bright young things performing “hits found in your great-grandfather’s record collection”.  Opening with a plethora of jazz, cabaret and even a little vaudeville, their set waned a little around the three-quarter mark but the concluding rendition of Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’ rectified the burgeoning tedium.

And then the divine Ms Bowditch quietly snuck on in all her flame haired glory, and without a fuss.  Gracing the stage with her guitar, she quietly tells a story of her 19 year old self making the decision to write music.  Then elaborating her journey of the ‘Amazing Life’ she envisioned for herself – soothing the audience into a quiet state of awe at her smooth vocals and power.

Embarking on her ‘The Winter I Chose Happiness’ national tour, Bowditch undertook a musical experiment by creating every song about the concept of being happy, because it “seemed like an excellent thing to dedicate two years of [her] short life to.”  And it seems the show is about spreading that warmth, as Clare invites you into her life and musical undertakings with every new song.

Fortunately for us, Bowditch has the same power to elicit laughter as she does appreciation for her talent – telling jokes, dancing and teasing us into fits of giggles.  Her song ‘The Tim’ aimed at making her guitarist/vocalist appear sexually viable to any and all interested, had the whole house in stitches.  Again, this unexpected hilarity adds to the comfortable, warm vibe of the entire set – until Clare stuns again with her silky voice.

Bowditch has some definite upbeat toe-tappers, with ‘You Make Me Happy’ seeing the aforementioned men of the Royal Jelly Dixieland Band chanting as her infectious backup, and ‘Cocky Lady’ eliciting many an enthusiastic clap from her audience.

But it will always be the slower, captivating acoustic tracks that steal my heart and leave me transfixed upon her.  We were all struck by her opening track ‘Amazing Life’, and were softly serenaded goodbye with ‘Your Love Walks With Me’.  The highlight was her beautiful  rendition of ‘The Big Happy’ off her latest album, accompanied vocally and instrumentally by her childhood friend Tim (yes, ladies, he’s single).  Simple, with beautiful harmonies and a message of love.  A definite inducer of spinal chills.

Clare invited us into her life and exploration into happiness for an evening of wonderful tunes and tales I won’t forget in a hurry – nor will my funny bone.

Danielle Muir