Live: The Staves, Art Centre, Norwich
- Written by Esme Hewitt
Three sisters proud of their Watford roots, Emily, Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor make up The Staves and we're excited to see whether their live performance matches up to their enticing recordings; something they exceed in doing. Pre-show the air of anticipation is palpable as the venue is full to bursting with people who clearly harbour a lot of love for the band.
After support act Sivu warm up the crowd with their alternative music stylings, The Staves take to the stage. With a minimum of fuss, production or instrumentation, they captivate the room, using their
stunning voices in multi-textured harmonies. Everyone is amazed by the power in those voices which fill the room with seemingly no effort required. The distinct tones of each sister blend beautifully and make great use of minor chords which send shivers down the spine.
Personal highlights include new song 'Facing West', the inclusion of whichyou can tell is a moment many have been waiting for from the hush that falls over the room following its introduction, and also playing 'What Good Am I?' as well as 'Rainy City'. The crowd show their support by talking to the band in between songs, dancing, and even singing along. With two encores, it's safe to say, The Staves did the job they came to do.
The mid-section of the show is more up-tempo, with more involvement from the drummer and bass player as well as younger sister Camilla displaying her gentle talents on the ukulele for the graceful ‘Tongue Behind My Teeth'.
As new fans of the band we weren't aware of the spell-binding live effect of the girls' vocals prior to tonight's gig and their ability to create a set list that continuously throws you from one beautiful song to another. We find ourselves dancing to most of their songs, as do a lot of the crowd which is made up of a wide mix of ages and as such a refreshing change to see at a gig.
Overall, tonight's gig is hugely enjoyable. The Staves do an amazing job, putting on an inclusive and entertaining show, due in now small part to the fantastic on-stage rapport they harbour. Definitely a band we'd recommend you'll be pleasantly surprised how much you'll find yourself liking them and their soft, yet powerful voices.