Live Review: Joan Armatrading, Victor Martinez

Chilean acoustic guitarist Victor Martinez’s long-form arrangements were designed to highlight his nimble and agile fretwork and undeniable technical proficiency. However, they tended to drag as the guitarist worked his way through extended sections of improvisation.

As such, the set struck a balance between colourful guitar trickery and unfortunately bland ABC Classic FM sterility. Each piece culminated in a climax of fluttering strums and up-the-neck action, but infrequently provided much more excitement or depth beyond these moments. At best the result was calming and engaging, but at worst Martinez felt a little like pleasant background noise.

An absence of personality was not a problem that plagued Joan Armatrading’s set, as the venerable singer-songwriter remained charming and humble throughout. Armatrading stopped by Sydney on her Last Major World Tour (which we’re assuming doesn’t mean she’ll come back and play all her songs in a minor key next year), but she certainly hasn’t worn out her welcome as a live performer. It’s evident from her relationship with the audience and with her songs that she has a great deal of passion and verve, and her honest and emotionally affecting songwriting has clearly stood the test of time.

Armatrading’s set spanned right across her illustrious and varied career, with mostly strong results. New songs like those from 2007’s Into The Blues blended in well with her better-remembered ‘70s classics. However, there were some issues with the bare-bones presentation of this solo tour.

Armatrading played through an occasionally pretty gross digital multi-effect pedal, played along with chintzy MIDI synth backing and was accompanied by a backdrop that often resembled the stock iTunes visualiser. These touches seemed to undermine Armatrading’s talent, or at least distract from it. It didn’t concern the huge, enraptured crowd though, there to sing along with favourites like the reggae-infused Rosie, the balladic Willow and the still stunning Love And Affection.