One Way Ticket to Sad City, Baby!
The train to Sad City made a stop at The Wee Bar of Queen’s Students’ Union on a Sunday evening. The stage was set for the night, with a pedal steel and trumpet lining the edges, guitars and a drum kit huddled in the centre. Having seen Eve perform an acoustic session in the Black Box earlier this year, this passenger was excited to look out the window and witness Eve’s big band launch her new EP ‘Sad City, Baby!’
Opening the night was Lauren White, a Belfast-based artist with singer-songwriter melodies and introspective lyrics. Following themes of romance and regret, the youthfully charged and very real heartache evident in her set paired well with a wonderful voice which, despite coming across a tad nervous in the beginning, really commanded the room and flourished as the night went on.
Playing the EP in track list order, Eve Belle kicked off her headline set with ‘Muscle Memory’. Belle’s voice itself invited the musicians around her to start playing in a serene little bubble – the reverberative force of the opening song alone let us know we were in for a smooth ride. For a few tracks Belle went solo, sharing with us songs she wrote while she was signed, some pieces as Gaeilge, and her latest single ‘Atalia’ – a track that is bilingual.
It was mesmerising to watch her take up so much space with her vocals; I felt close to Eve and everyone else in the room, all gathered listening to such a powerful songstress. Belle talked of her connection to the Irish language, as well as time spent in Galway by the lough that gave her single its name, and she spoke with such genuine warmth. Selecting her favourite Irish songs to perform gave a personal touch to the evening, sang with a dreamy lyricism, and contrasted brilliantly with the bigger numbers’ theatricality.
The EP performed live sounded fantastic. Each instrument played a vital role in delivering a sizably cohesive performance. Belle’s vocals led the band impeccably, with a very sure confidence – it is evident that ‘Sad City, Baby!’ is a record Belle is proud of. Having released her first independent single ‘TV’ in 2023, Eve Belle is a symbol of bravery and conviction among local female artists, and her latest EP’s reception has only further proven this point.
Closing the night with ‘Milo’ alongside her band was a perfect choice. The sadness in the pleading of the chorus, “I wish you would cry for me little […] just to show me you care”, alongside Belle’s hauntingly soft delivery was incredibly effective in its expression of heartache and closure, or lack thereof. It’s clear that Belfast is only a stop on the map for the beautiful talents of Eve Belle. I look forward to her next performance as a proud Sad City tourist – I recommend as many people hop aboard the train as possible.
