Words and photos by Dawn
There's a full house at Stockton’s Green Room for Jay Moussa-Mann’s album launch – and deservedly so. What
better place to spend a Friday evening than back in my hometown watching three
incredible, multi-talented, local women deliver a masterclass in all things
musical?
Multi-instrumentalist (and actor) Izzy Neish opens, weaving her moody, melodic magic across
guitar, clarinet and saxophone. Quiet but confident, it’s an atmospheric set
perfect for the low lighting and quirky venue, and some of her lyrics have
hints of the Frozen by Sight project on which fellow Teessider Paul Smith
collaborated with Peter Brewis.
Caitlin from Honeylight delivers a solo set spilling over with so
many immediately infectious songs that the only downside is there’s not yet an
album for everyone to be able to take home with them. A self-confessed
oversharer, her cheery chatter is as endearing as her quick and clever lyrics
and I can only imagine that her full band would emphasise the delights of her
music even more.
Jay Moussa-Mann gigs are always uplifting. Sure, she
has a skill for thought-provoking lyrics and a tender tale that breaks your
heart, but she’s also never short of a singalong chorus and is such a smiley
soul that it’s never long before her obvious joy at making music sparkles
through again.
She treats us to tracks from upcoming new album, The Lady Vanishes, where a
song about your parents no longer being able to fix everything when you’re
grown up (It Hurts Daddy It Hurts) fits firmly into the emotional category, but
Amy and Volleyball are immediate, up-tempo anthems and the wonderful Mediocre
Men has a tune so catchy it’s been a regular earworm of mine since she first
put it out into the world. Rather than singing the latter live tonight, though,
there’s an inspired, mid-set screening of the amusing video she made for the
song - a tongue-in-cheek yet superb commentary on women being overlooked in
favour of inexplicably over-confident members of the opposite sex.
Jay’s sweet voice is one of my absolute favourites and it’s
a pleasure to be a part of such a lovely evening. I’ve no doubt that, as per
her lyrics, she will indeed keep shining brighter and brighter.
The Lady Vanishes album is released on 24/06/26 - pre-order onBandcamp