As part of the Edinburgh International Festival, John Scott pops along to the Leith Theatre to see Ezra Furman.

Photos: John Scott, courtesy of Edinburgh International Festival

Ezra Furman’s Perpetual Motion People album was my soundtrack to the summer of 2015 and remains a firm favourite. This is something that Ezra must surely be aware of since tonight she opts to play not a single note of it.  To be fair, a lot has changed since that album was released; having previously identified as genderqueer, Furman came out as a transgender woman in 2021 and has developed a harder-edged, leaner sound.  But while the street corner saxophones may have gone, the 50s rock ‘n’ roll influence remains, as evidenced by her choice of walk-on music: Dressed In Black by The Shangri-Las.

“This is dedicated to all trans women,” says Furman, opening with Lilac and Black, also the colours she has chosen to wear tonight.  Furman’s songs share a sense of epic, yearning transcendence with those of Springsteen at his best but while Bruce often seems to be telegraphing other people’s stories, characters in a Great American Novel, Ezra’s songs spring from her own experience.  “This one is straight from my guts,” she says, introducing Transition From Nowhere To Nowhere and there can be no doubting that.

Three songs in, a technical glitch leaves us hanging for a while but Ezra and her band reboot and are soon back firing on all cylinders.  Swapping acoustic guitar for a mean black Tele, Ezra exchanges slashing chords with new guitarist Max Talay.  Long-term band members Ben Joseph (guitars/keys), Sam Durkes (drums), and Jorgen Jorgensen (bass) provide a tight but loose backing that gives Furman the freedom to take risks when she wants to.

Furman is showcasing several songs from her new album All Of Us Flames, released this week.  She is clearly proud to be giving these songs an airing and if Point Me Towards The Real, I Saw The Truth Undressing, Train Comes Through, and Suck The Blood From My Wound are any indication, we are in for her best work yet.

What has been a joyful celebration of difference and individuality comes to a close with the familiar sound of the piano intro of Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen’s Because The Night.  “Take me now baby, here as I am…” we did and we do, Ezra.  Thanks for the experience.

John Scott