CAMDEN CRAWL: Amy Winehouse
- Posted on April 24, 2007 10:35 AM
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Amy Winehouse, The Dublin Castle - 19th April 2007
By Katie Spain
It's well past the scheduled time for Amy Winehouse to hit the stage. The crowd's chanting bounces off the walls - "Where's the wino, where's the wino?" The Dublin Castle is full to the gills with Camden Crawl revellers; all keen and a little apprehensive about whether she'll even show up. There's nothing like an evening of suspense in a little North London pub.
Earlier, as I lined up to get in, I'd read a report about a gig she'd done today in Bristol. Unsurprisingly, it focussed on her backstage beverage requests. That's the thing about Amy; she's the modern-day jazz chick with enough raw edge and public troubles to make her media's most interesting darling. Why follow pop princesses around when you can hound a semi-slaughtered, dishevelled, loud-mouthed waif with an attitude? Add her even gobbier rock-star mates into the equation and you've got yourself a journo's dream date. That's exactly why we all love her... but let's not forget - the woman has a gut-wrenchingly amazing voice. And tonight, that's what we're here for.
There's an undercurrent of electric anticipation in the crowd this evening. We know we're in for a treat of delightfully intimate proportions. The stage is small, so when six strapping jazz musicians take their place we wonder whether Miss Winehouse will fit between them. Luckily, the woman is tiny... surprisingly so in the flesh - I'm talking height and girth. I knew there was a motive behind that massive hair. As a security guard hoists her tiny frame (and two large drinks) on stage, we can't help but stare. She's wearing a white singlet, with an eye-catching yellow and blue bra (and the cleavage to go with it) visible beneath it. Her jet black hair is bunched above her head like a beehive and a bird's nest rolled into one and the trade-mark jet black eyeliner (above the eye ladies) does what it is supposed to - draws our own eyes in. Of course, every muso needs a pair of skinny jeans... Amy's hang from her barely-there hips in an almost tentative fashion. It's enough to make a 'non-skinny framed' girl go lime-green with envy.
But, we're here for the music - not a catwalk and by the looks of the set-list we're in for a long set. Amy wobbles a little behind the mic, be it bright lights, booze or something altogether different, she seems a little 'preoccupied'. Maybe that's what it's like to be in Amy world. She seems somewhat disjointed and between songs fiddles constantly with the tip of the mic stand. She stares into space (or is it the direction of the bar)... but as an audience, we don't feel disjointed in the slightest because when she opens her mouth, the raw gritty jazz vocals slap us in the face and leave us begging for more.
She plays most of the tracks from her album 'Back To Black' and then some. Amy has a stage presence that commands attention. Intoxicated or not, she is the pinnacle of professionalism as soon as she bursts into song. This is a girl with enormous talent and a sense of humour to match. She's animated, bouncy and frequently explodes with laughter for no apparent reason. The drummer is invited to take his shirt off and the collective audience is spoken to as if we're sharing a pint at the pub.
"I'm thirsty" our songstress tells us between numbers. "The first person to get me a shot of tequila gets a kiss - from their choice of band member". Wow, all that singing must be thirsty work.
"Actually, get me a bottle and you get a sex act". The crowd roar... they love her - but no-one more so than the lucky lad who delivers a double shot to the lady in waiting. True to her word, she delivers a kiss on his flushed cheek. He even gets another one... a double counts as two you know. With a laugh, Winehouse lets one slip; "I'd better watch out - my fiancé is here!"
Little do we know, there's mayhem going on outside. I've endured three hours of standing, bruised kneecaps and a weird spitting photographer to secure my place at the front. Others, it seems have not been so fortunate. Hoards of hopefuls were turned away at the door when the venue reached capacity. Friends star David Schwimmer got in, but others were not so lucky. It looks like these bruises are worth their ugly purple weight in gig-going gold.
Amy tells us to talk to the Dublin Castle Manager about securing a residency. "No, I'm serious" she insists. Somehow, I doubt it's likely... but the idea is a nice one. The venue has a place in most London music fan's hearts - after all, it was here that the Camden Crawl originated... ten years ago. Being part of history is a damn fine feeling - and don't we know it.
She rounds off the evening with her Mark Ronson collaboration 'Valerie' and as the final tune belts forth from her hefty set of lungs, we nestle safe in the knowledge that this is one of the modern jazz greats. Big venues, small venues, intoxicated or sober... Amy has what it takes to entertain a crowd. Beer, bourbon and wine aside, she is a first-class performer. She's like the kid your parents didn't want you to play with but that everyone secretly wants to be. As I emerge from the Castle and step towards the paparazzi's outstretched talons, it dawns on me... maybe it ain't so easy being Amy after all.
Have you seen Amy live in concert? What was it like? Do you have a message for her? Spill the beans in our comments section.
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