Lau Noah & Lior ~ Guitar Festival Review

Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sun 14 Sep.

Tonight is the first and only Australian performance from Spanish born New York resident singer/guitarist Lau Noah. Her guitar playing is melodic and quite complex, owing something but not everything to a flamenco style, while her voice often accompanies the guitar lines as if there is some kind of conversation going on. Watching her long fingers dance effortlessly across the guitar frets it is easy to imagine she was some kind of child prodigy, but in fact she was in her early 20’s before she began to teach herself guitar. Since then she has attracted the attention of several notable musicians, including recent Adelaide visitor Jacob Collier.

Noah’s songwriting however, began at an early age, on piano, inspired by Disney movie songs. This influence is relevant to mention, as the songs often have whimsical or haunting lyrics, sometimes in English, sometimes Catalan. The set list is also embedded in a folk tale involving children losing their dreams when they turn seven! Delightfully she decides to adjust her language because there are children in the audience, so her songs sometimes reference adults ‘hugging’!

She describes how her debut album, 2024’s A Dos, took two years to record because it is primarily a collection of duets with her favourite artists from around the world, and recording had to fit in with their busy schedules.

Her full individuality and artistry is on display with an inspired version of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now. I never expected to ever hear a solo artist inject so much fresh life into such a classic song. She ends strongly with If a tree falls in love with a river, (a duet with Jacob Collier on the album) getting the audience to sing along at the end. Called back for an encore, she completely changes the tone with a breakneck version of the ridiculous The Armadillo Song. Our first time visitor has clearly made a big impression, and will be a name to watch.

Lior is a regular visitor to Adelaide, whether it be for projects such as Compassion with Nigel Westlake, cabaret with Domini Forster (in the band tonight), or playing with Paul Grabowsky, but it has been quite a while since he has appeared here in full band mode. The release of a new album the Blue Parade in 2024 has provided the excuse and the Guitar Festival the opportunity to bring his band to town. Lior appears a little sheepish about being included in the Guitar Festival, identifying primarily as a singer and songwriter, so he compensates by filling the guitar rack with 5 guitars to bolster his credentials. Lior also has guitarist Cameron Deyell on board, so between them there is plenty to justify their inclusion in this festival.

Lior’s easy manner with the audience, combined with his sublime voice and memorable songwriting always makes a Lior performance an enjoyable experience. He peppers the set with older favourites, but the focus is on a strong set of songs which make up the new album. Some of the songs are collaborations with Cameron Deyell – in fact Centipede started life as a Deyell instrumental which Lior heard him perform and decided to add words. A personal favourite is Lior’s post-Covid lockdown song If The Wind Will Catch My Name. The atmospheric album opener Compulsion is a powerful set closer, earning an encore which is his only cover for the evening, Satisfied Mind, a much covered song learned from John Martyn.

The Adelaide Guitar Festival strives to present an interesting range of guitar-based music from around the world, and tonight has been a pleasure from start to finish.

4.5 stars

Adrian Miller

This was the only Guitar Festival performance of lau Noah & Lior