Emma Ruth Rundle & Jon Samuel Ardron @ Bush Hall, London, 1st September 2024
In all my years of attending live music, I have had the opportunity to catch probably 90% of my dream acts in that time. Some have been smaller acts, while others have been stadium fillers. In that time there have always been a select few that have been on my proverbial ‘bucket list’, so seeing them was always a priority.
In the last few years, the top of the list, by a country mile, has been Emma Ruth Rundle. Having missed several opportunities in recent years, the fates aligned, and on Sunday the 1st of September 2024 I finally got to strike a massive tick off my list, and then some.
My home for the evening was Bush Hall in London, a small, yet beautiful venue, the setting for what would prove to be an unforgettable night indeed.
Opening proceedings with an atmospheric otherworldly solo piano set, Jon Samuel Ardron played for the best part of half an hour to a silent audience, who were literally hanging off his every note. Somewhat a restrained performance, each note complimented its predecessor wonderfully, to give a sense of union, while the sonic monologue mesmerised the crowd.
For me, it was somewhat of a revelation and as an opener, it proved the perfect partner for the evening. There were hints of mournful sorrow entwined with the soulful outpouring, Ardron making it appear effortless, as if the piano was an extension of himself, organically picking up on all his internal emotions.
After a brief interlude and a chance to recompose, it was time for the main attraction of the evening and as Emma Ruth Rundle appeared on stage, the response from the audience was a joy to behold. Playing a solo set, predominantly comprised of tracks from the album behind the ten-year anniversary tour, Some Heavy Ocean, Emma proceeded to capture the hearts of each member of the crowd with every new moment.
Opening with one of my personal favourites, Living With The Black Dog, this stripped back performance left me completely breathless. Every bit as incredible live as it is on album, I finally had the overwhelming revelation that I was exactly where I wanted to be on the whole planet, and it was joyous.
That feeling never subsided throughout the whole experience, and as track after track was played, it was so immersive, that there wasn’t a point where turning away from the stage to observe the sold out venue was an option. You could feel the anticipation for each note, and with each new familiar tune came another little grin across my face.
a truly hypnotic performance by an artist who is as humble as they are vulnerable in a live setting…
After the second track, Your Card The Sun came to an end, it was swiftly replaced with one of my absolute favourites, Run Forever, and by the sound of the crowd at its beginning, I felt like the whole room was in unison with my feelings towards this classic. Even stripped back to its bare bones, it’s such a huge tune, and at every pre-chorus, there was an intake of air in anticipation of the payoff which is the chorus line. By its climax, I did have a moment of acknowledegment for my life now being complete, such is my love for the piece.
As Arms I Know So Well washed in, you could hear a pin drop at Bush Hall. Each and every person transfixed stage ward, the enormity of the experience well and truly taking its hold, with the whole audience in the palm of Emma’s hand. Veering away from Some Heavy Ocean briefly, the audience was indulged with a couple of tracks from her most recent release, Engine Of Hell.
First Citadel, which came as somewhat of a surprise, and then Blooms Of Oblivion, which absolutely melted me. Having been wanting to catch her perform for so long, and then not one, but two newer tracks was like all my Christmases coming all at once.
Dropping back to Some Heavy Ocean material, we got to witness the beautiful Haunted Houses and Shadows Of My Name, two tracks that I could have on repeat all day, and never get tired of. Both played with a fragile eloquence that allowed the emotion to pour through and to witness Emma putting her very being into each moment was incredibly captivating. Turning towards On Dark Horses briefly, the phenomenal Darkhorse got an airing, much to my enjoyment. I never thought I would get to see this performed live, so it was an added bonus for sure, and Emma knocked it out of the park.
Not having finished just yet, she wowed the crowd with an energetic blast of Marked For Death, from the album of the same name, before stepping back to the penultimate track for the evening, Savage Saint. As yet another wonderful moment from her back catalogue was unabashedly performed, there was a moment of reflection for what had been a truly hypnotic performance by an artist who is as humble as they are vulnerable in a live setting.
To have been a witness to such a defining moment unfolded in front of me, and nearly be at its pinnacle was both heartbreaking and reaffirming to how much joy can come from one magical experience.
After a brief tet-a-tet with the audience, Real Big Sky’s opening bars rolled in, the whole place was crushed in unison. Always such a big piece, so heavily laden in emotion, to hear this live was divine. It was the perfect end to a beautifully sombre affair, rich, emotive, and filled with love. So much love for Emma Ruth Rundle, life fulfilled forevermore.
Scribed by: Lee Beamish
