Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan
Support: William Elliott Whitmore
28th January 2007
Paradiso, Amsterdam – The Netherlands

After having released one of the best albums of 2006, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan finally found some time to go on a small tour together. She had been touring solo throughout most of 2006, while he took the Twilight Singers to a higher level by joining in on their tour to perform a couple of songs each show. The Ballad Of The Broken Seas album received high praise from music critics all over the world, eventually resulting in a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music prize. Needless to say, the expectations for this concert were high.

William Elliott Whitmore
First though the stage belonged to bluesman, William Elliott Whitmore who played a thirty minute set and received some great rounds of applause. He started of with a fantastic acapella blues song that managed to silence most of the audience. Highlight out of a set, that apart from his voice featured a banjo and an acoustic guitar, was ‘Take It On The Chin’.

At around 10.30 the stage curtain opened and out came Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan. They started of with Revolver which was followed by Carry Home, a Gun Club Cover that is also featured on Lanegan’s ‘I’ll Take Care Of You’ cover album. During the next song, Deus Ibi Est it became clear that Isobel Campbell, for one reason or another, wasn’t that focused. She forgot the lyrics, and the parts that she managed to sing weren’t all in tune. Whether she had been smoking some Dutch herbs during the course of the day, or was just nervous, it became clear that she had difficulties in putting up a good performance.

Thankfully for her, Mark Lanegan was on her side for most of the evening. On stage with his stoical pose, right hand of the microphone stand left on the microphone itself, he ensured that the show wouldn’t die a slow death. Simply because he has one of the best, if not the best, voices in modern music, he is able to make a song sound fantastic. Absolute highlights were Why Does My Head Hurt So?, Little Sadie, I’ll Take Care Of You, The Flame That Burns and The Circus Is Leaving Town.

During Saturday’s Song and Willow’s Song, when Isobel Campbell was on stage alone, without the help of Mark Lanegan, it became clear that she is a rather limited singer. However, when he returned on stage they did manage to create some beautiful moments together, for example during Sand and (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me.

If it hadn’t been for Mark Lanegan, it would have been a rather disappointing night.

Setlist:
Revolver
Carry Home
Deus Ibi Est
The False Husband
Ballad Of The Broken Seas
Saturday’s Gone
Willows Song
It’s Hard To Kill A Bad Thing
Why Does My Head Hurt So?
Nottamun Town
Little Sadie
Dusty Wreath
Penso A Te
I’ll Take Care Of You
The Flame That Burns
The Circus Is Leaving Town
(Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me
Sand
Honey Child What Can I Do?

Encore:
Ramblin’ Man
Wedding Dress

< Setlist as written down on the paper on stage. Don't know if they stuck to it exactly, but it's pretty much correct.