Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
IT’snot every day you get agenuine international chart-topper headlining a gig on the rugby club pitch … a venue more used to sound-alikes on stage duringthe TribFest frivolities.
Maybe it’s not too surprising? Sandi Thom has played live in several unconventional venues, having previously performed at the opening of the World Skiing Championships in Sweden, where the stage was set up at the top of a mountain range. Another high note was performing at the top of theBT tower in London.
But Saturday evening’soffering was a mellower affair with the new Bahrain resident and rescue-dog owner, Sandi, showing a softer side and delivering a superb 30-minuteset.
The star was once unreasonably chastised in her home Scottish press for performing in the kingdom by the ill-informed anti-Bahrain brigade, so straight away she had a warm spot in my heart. She had taken to her social networking page to let fans know how much she enjoyed her visit to JJ’s and its multi-national audience, and promised to return.
I missed that gig but fortunately Janabiyacalled and Bahrain’s favouriteanimal saviourhad found another golden-voiced supporter (Joss Stone being thenotable other) to support his abandoned and stray animal endeavours.
Multi-instrumentalist Sandi, with two guitars at the ready, kicked off her set playing the harmonica before bursting into beautiful blues vocals on You’ve Got to Help Me Darlin, withmore to come on Heart of Stoneand Forever in Your Mind.
Sandi has a heavenly voice made for this genre but the crowd wantedthe pop hit that made her a household name. Her debut single I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)topped the 2006 singles charts in the UK, Australia and around the globe.
Moments into the song, however, a child close to the stage accidently pulled a lead loose and the sound of silence interrupted the flow, just as we were all singing along heartily.
Whoops!
Sandi, like a true trooper, didn’t have a hissy fit or miss a stride, and carried on shortly afterwards as if nothing had happened.
It’s not been easy going for the performer in a notoriouslyfickle industry. She once posted, then deleted, a Facebookvideo in which she tearfully explained that a single she had recorded had been passed over for inclusion on major radio and network playlists. “I am done with this industry,” she said at the time.“I can apparently do no right.”
Not true, you are perfect …and left us all wanting more.
