Easily nudging its way up to being one of my top five gigs of the year was the wonderful show put on by The Lost Cavalry at the launch party for their new ‘Three Cheers For The Undertaker’ album.
Playing to a sold-out St Pancras Old Church, the candle-lit Victorian building was the perfect venue for the band’s widescreen tales of brave adventures, frozen radio stations and last trains out of town.
Supporting the Lost Cavalry was Sophie Jamieson,whose emotion-racked, atmospheric songs were perfect for the intimate surroundings.
“You lot are very quiet indeed,” she nervously commented, perhaps unaware of the impact that it was her shimmering melodies that were leaving the audience spellbound!
Coming on to rapturous applause, The Lost Cavalry – led by ex-Fanfarlo guitarist Mark West – played their new album in track-by-track order.
Several surprises were in store, with a true spine-tingling moment coming when the Keston Cobblers Club brass section played their instruments as they walked down the aisle to join the band for ‘Stars Are Ripe.’
Even better was to come when the band left the stage to join a male voice choir to deliver a stunningly beautiful rendition of ‘Only Forward.’
Later songs saw Sophie Jamieson returning to the stage for backing vocals, as well as a reappearance from the Keston Cobblers Club, adding fresh textures to the band’s multi-layered sound.
A brace of well deserved encores followed, with the final song seeing Mark leaping off stage to play the church’s pipe organ!
This really was a very special gig in a wonderful location that the band had used to their advantage, and I expect business was brisk at their CD stall after the show. It’s a great album.
(You can buy the Lost Cavalry album from Amazon or bag a limited edition gatefold CD or a digital download.)
Scroll down for more photos from the event.