Review: Opie Deino EP Launch – The Bodega – 16 April 2014

Having been a fan of OPIE DEINO, or Siân, from the moment I heard her play years back, I was pretty excited about this gig. I haven’t heard her for a while, but I remembered her talent and amazing personality to boot, and I just knew her EP launch was not to be missed. So I hoofed it down to The Bodega (dontcha love longer summer days?) and arrived in time to get a drink to satisfy the dehydration, and then was ready to feel the music.

MOLLY & JACK were first up on the stage, and although there was only a small gathering of us right at the start, they didn’t let that phase them, and proceeded through their set with confidence and an intimate sweetness which may have been lost in a larger crowd. Their vocal harmonies are both interesting and delicate, with Jack’s voice often floating in an edgy kind of way above Molly’s. Hers are often deep and smooth, whilst Jack’s add a folky flavour. Both their vocal control is noteworthy, and their voices are so vibrant to listen to, both separately and together, that you can’t help wanting to listen. They navigate their way through a mixed set, some moodier with darker tones such as Sea of Slumber and others provide uplifting pop melodies which are charming, such as Tiny Feet. They have a great chemistry, and are sweet together on stage, which really ties the songs together despite their range in styles and influences. Their final song of the set was Open Hearts, and with deftly fingerpicked guitar, it lays the foundation for heartfelt, open vocals to shine through. Both Molly and Jack have gorgeous vocals in this one, and pull it out of the bag for the final number. It’s upbeat and their swaying and passion on stage makes me feel like they could work really nicely in front of a band, but for now their intimacy is more than enough, as they leave the crowd feelingly nicely warmed up.

Of course warming up is all they’ll be doing as ROB GREEN takes the lead with his charismatic stage presence and upbeat soulful pop numbers. He seems extremely comfortable, which allows for a really close and personal performance which is very polished and expressive. His vocals are crystal clear and stunning, and if you’ve heard him before, his music can be fast paced and exciting such as in Straight and Narrow, and so easily he could slip and get the words wrong, but he knows his music inside out and this promotes a confident performance. He plays around with audience involvement, which I was a little familiar with compared to his previous performances I’ve seen, but the audience got involved to an extent, and Rob still sweetly applauded us afterwards. The darker tones we hear in Cardinal are a contrast with their funky tones, which feel frustrated but still lively and upbeat, and easy to find yourself dancing to… Last time I saw him, he bashed out a 90’s medley to the audience’s delight, and this time he didn’t disappoint either and got stuck in with a wonderfully crafted mash up, in which he even managed to sneak in a twitter plug… sneaky! He ended his set on a high, and received a massive applause. People love Rob, and Rob loves them back.

As OPIE DEINO gets ready with her band, the room is lively. People are excited, and are getting their drinks in ready and eager to see her perform. And she doesn’t disappoint. Getting straight to the point, the band begins with Eli, the first track from St. Jude, the new EP which she’s launching. What hits you first about Opie Deino is her gorgeously smooth and beautifully delivered vocals. She not only has a stunning sound, but she packs in so much feeling and emotion that it blows you away. The song begins gently, with the band playing subtly behind her, including some wonderfully imagined backing vocals, however soon it erupts into life and is intense and thrilling. The intensity continues in Monsters, where the deeper, darker melodies are contemplative. She begins this on her own, but as the band enters after an unapologetic ‘counting in’, it changes into something really creative; using some funky rhythm patterns which liven it up and a snare which pierces through. This number seems to dip in and out of the darker/lighter tones, which is an effective technique, as I certainly felt my emotions and even my heart rate changing with the song. The set is exciting and certainly wets the audience’s appetite for more. It’s a hugely supportive crowd, and it feels like a trusting atmosphere as Siân introduces the next number, Richard Parker, revealing it’s based on some advice her mum gave her; that you may be stuck in the darkness, but eventually the light will come on again. It’s very sweet, and we are taken on a journey through her emotions. In fact, the interesting song structures and attention to detail make her songs all seem like little adventures we are taken on. With the keyboard player adopting a trombone for this number, it adds another dimension to the music, and heightens it somehow. All of the band are working well together, creating a professional and polished performance. After Already Home, another beautifully heartbreaking song, Siân decides to begin stripping back the set. She performs Origami next with just her and her bassist, which brings the attention to her vocals and reveals the song writing talents she possesses. She continues to strip the set back, and plays India totally unplugged. It’s a brave move, as it is quite difficult to hear, but the whole room silences to try. She admits she prefers playing this way, and does so for the next number Dive In, although she’s also joined again by her bassist for this one, who instead puts the bass down and adopts an acoustic guitar too. The extra guitar adds some musical meat to the number, and the backing vocals do too. The bassist also has the opportunity to sing a verse solo, which is a really nice change of pace and texture.

She’s joined by the band again for the final few numbers of the set. Firework & A Flame is a song which almost everyone can relate to. It explores the dilemmas faced when your mind and your heart want to go separate ways, and she discusses this topic with flair and originality. It’s moody and emotive, and with a really funky, jazzy, key changing outro, it doesn’t fail to be an interesting and multi-dimensional song. Next she plays Humbug, the single off the new EP. For this one she adopts a new role, putting the guitar down, and assuming a stance in front of the mic. She’s still modest and herself on stage though, and it’s great to see a performer so grounded in herself. Her songs never progress how you think they will, they change and adapt, and take interesting directions, and Humbug does this with real class, and she smashes it. Molly Brown ends the set, starting slow and gentle, but bursting to life with the band. The trombone comes out to play again, and the switching between trombone/piano provides a really interesting change during the verse/chorus. The audience go mad for it, and of course demand an encore, to which Siân doesn’t disappoint. Donning just herself and her guitar, she ends the set exactly how I first came to know and love her music, and so it feels very organic. Against My Enemies a song about her little brother, and it’s so sweet to hear such a close and personal song as the final number. Her family are obviously important to her, and the raw performance is passionate and flaunts her personality and skill at face value, and it’s a stunning way to end the evening. You’ll love her as soon as you hear her, and if you haven’t yet, make sure you put that on your to do list, along with buying the beautiful EP.

You can find out more about this artist through her facebook page, and you can download the EP from iTunes here.

Review and photographs by Cassia Helme