Tom McCrae

The 16th gig on our A to Z musical adventure was ……

On the evidence of last night’s gig in Strasbourg, Tom McRae is a man who cares first and foremost about what’s going on across the world.

From the various wars, political upheavals to climate change and the seemingly limited options for the common people to make change happen. It’s as if it’s all above our pay grade.

Despite all those misgivings there is heartfelt thanks that, on a sultry Friday night, so many people have came out to see and hear him perform.

And he doesn’t disappoint.

For Bronagh and myself, being in the La Laiterie – Club, with so many adoring fans is serendipitous.

As we were contemplating a potential list of gigs as part of our own A to Z Musical Tour, Strasbourg became a viable stop over point on our way back home to Glasgow. Last night would be when we were passing through. Tom was on tour. Initial listening to a few of his songs got the thumbs up and tickets were duly purchased.

Beforehand, I contacted Tom and asked if he could give me an idea of the set list for inclusion in this post. And he replied!

His response summed up the evening perfectly. ‘…… I don’t know what I’ll be playing. I’ll make it up as I go along and see where it takes me!’

And while there was some form of structure to the set, especially the opening half dozen songs, much of the remainder was a result of requests shouted out from the audience, maybe with a few added in that he wanted to play on the night himself.

The gig was so much better as an experience as a result. Apart from being a thoughtful caring human being, he is quick witted too and, though mainly a French audience, had us laughing with anecdotes about Sarah Brightman, Hot Gossip (yes we’re old enough to remember them on TOTP!!) and members of his missing band mates on the night.

Playing mostly on accoustic guitar with a couple on keyboards and electric guitar, there were several key takeaways from the gig.

His back catalogue is definitely worth exploring. Whether from his most recent album of duets Étrange Hiver or from his eponymous debut nearly 25 years ago, there is a volume of work that has to be heard and hopefully admired to the same degree as many around us last night.

He has built up a faithful fanbase who know every nuance, every word of every song and there was genuine love travelling to and from the stage last night. Even to the point of Tom stepping off stage to serenade to the lucky few around him.

Finally, the audience has to be admired in a way that few others before, in all my previous gigs throughout the years, have been.

Yes, there was audience participation when called upon by Tom to join in.

Remember it was an acoustic solo set. Yet you could here a pin drop as Tom played. There was no chatting with your partner or pals. There was only intent listening to Tom’s performance and the evening, although our view of him on stage was to say the least limited, was all the better for this total respect of the artist.

Tom. I’ll see you again in September when you come to Glasgow. It was a fantastic evening of entertainment you provided.

I don’t think I could make a better recommendation for others to join me that night back in my hometown.

Merci bien. Or, in Glasgow parlance, cheers wee fella!!

Support

The support on the evening was provide by Hannah Featherstone, a Parisian singer who like Tom, played a solo set on keyboards. She too had some some friends and fans in the audience judging by the reaction to each of the songs on her relatively short set. An ideal opener for Tom, the songs had an Enya quality if brought more into the 2020s.

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Album review?

About the venue

Date 22 March 2024

15-17 Rue du Hohwald, 67000 Strasbourg

Great we club venue with a capacity of around 200 people. Maybe more. Its a straightforward walk from the city centre to the club and getting in and out was relatively easy. Like most venues of this nature, picking a good spot to see the performance is critical as stage is not that high off the floor!