On a cold southwest December Wednesday evening, the queue started forming around the block in Bristol before the doors opened at The Fleece for Restless Road’s debut Bristol gig, supported by special guest, Erin Kinsey.
The effervescent Texan singer-songwriter Kinsey strode onto the stage at eight o’clock, with two guitarists and a drummer, a decently-sized crowd awaiting them, decked in flannel, C2C t-shirts and favourite band shirts.
Kinsey opened with ‘Tabs On Me’ from her latest album ‘Gettin’ Away With It', getting into her set list with the ease of a natural performer. ‘I Ain’t Crazy’ followed and the crowd began to warm up, camera phones following Kinsey across the floorboards. Readying the crowd for a night of live music, she brought the us in for a rendition of the chorus, and we joined in with enthusiasm.
A storytelling interlude followed, where she explained the second part to the story of a break-up -that of her ex-boyfriend marrying her best friend, and considering herself a ‘Matchmaker’. This upbeat take on what for most people would be a destroyer just makes a Nashville performer stronger, and the quirky song no doubt gained her some new followers.
The mood slowed to an endearing ballad, dealing with the heartbreak maturity of the end of a six year break up in ‘Best of My 20’s’, a reflective three-minute song that had most of the crowd quieter than a Shepherd’s Bush Empire gig.
Then it was time for the tempo to increase on ‘Trouble’, Kinsey and the band having fun rocking around the stage in this bad-boy song, which the crowd really got behind, heating up for the midweek music masterclass in how to open for a band.
In just over twenty minutes Kinsey became a firm favourite with the audience, especially when she announced she’d be available to meet people at the merch table after her set.
The final song performed from 2024’s ‘Getting’ Away With It' album was ‘Wild’ a powerhouse of a track that saw the drummer and guitarists showcase their musicianship as Kinsey prepared for her final song of the thirty minute session.
The last word of the evening belonged to Kinsey’s 2021 single, ‘Just Drive’ a fun, carefree song with powerful vocals and music to rival the imagery of ditching the supposed good time of a five-star reservation to spend time with the one you love taking in the energy of the road.
Kinsey wears her heart in her songwriting and between-song chats, the experiences relatable with the crowd of all ages, if not experienced. There are so many live shows I’ve seen where the support act is an opportunity to get a drink and chat with friends you haven’t seen for ages. The measure of a good performance is a crowd that’s with the special guest for each of the songs, even if it’s their first show. And I much prefer the term guest to support.
It’s been eight years since I saw Kinsey, at her first C2C experience in 2016 (I missed her 2022 performance due to a clash) where she bowled me over with her confidence, a skill she has in abundance, naturally engaging with the audience and rocking out to one of the best albums of 2024.
Set list: 1. Tabs On Me 2. I Ain’t Crazy 3. Matchmaker 4. Best of My 20’s 5. Trouble 6. Wild 7. Just Drive Venue: The Fleece, Bristol, UK Date: 11th December 2024
