O’HOOLEY & TIDOW live at The Live Room, Saltaire

O’HOOLEY & TIDOW live at The Live Room, Saltaire
Photograph by Dai Jeffries

What is there new to say about O’Hooley & Tidow? The Hum tour was almost over by late July and the songs well established after countless performances, although Belinda and Heidi never lose the passion in their music, and they are full of confidence. This, however, was O’H & T on their own turf at a venue full of friends and family where everyone seemed to know everyone else and if they didn’t know you they made it their business to find out. Before I’d settled down I was in conversation with the venue’s photographer and being introduced to Belinda’s father, Seamus. You don’t get that in Camden Town.

They opened with ‘The Hum’, a song that starts small and gets big, and ‘Just A Note’, another song that began with something small and says a lot. After the a capella trio of ‘Spancil Hill, ‘Teardrop’ and ‘Banjololo’ came the moment we were waiting for: the live recording of ‘Summat’s Brewin’’ for their next album. We did our best. ‘Two Mothers’ was stunning with Belinda unleashing a tidal wave of piano and Heidi clinging to the microphone stand to withstand the storm.

Photograph by Dai Jeffries
Photograph by Dai Jeffries

The second half began with more serious songs including ‘The Tallest Tree’ and ‘Peculiar Brood’ before Seamus was encouraged up on stage – it didn’t take much encouragement – to sing ‘Phil The Fluter’s Ball’ and completely steal the show. After ‘A Daytrip’ and ‘Kitsune’ they finished with ‘Like Horses’ and returned to encore with ‘Gentleman Jack’. And then…

It seemed we’d not done terribly well on ‘Summat’s Brewin’’ so we did it again, Belinda nailed the piano solo to her satisfaction and Neil Ferguson didn’t have to keep us in after school (but they’ll probably dub Coope Boyes And Simpson on later). And then … there had been a request for ‘Too Old To Dream’ so it was sung and that was a good finisher. And then … Belinda and Heidi came down on the floor to sing a beautiful and heartfelt ‘Parting Glass’ by which time the poor compère had no idea what was going on. You don’t get that in Camden Town, either.

Dai Jeffries

Artists’ website: http://ohooleyandtidow.com/

‘Just A Note’ – official video: