The summer gig list is piling up and the posts are dwindling. I'm hoping to rectify that here with a sneak peak into a few days/nights/afternoons that I have been privy to in the last little while.
Firstly - Ruarri Joseph
I mean that is a pretty cool name - Ruarri. RUARRI. And his name is not the only thing cool about him. A friend of mine and I stumble down to the Halfmoon Putney (great gig venue, like actually one of my favourites in this BIG city I call home). I convinced her we needed to see this man and his guitar pretty much cause I saw a picture of him and thought - that man can make music. And boy was I right. With a casual demeanour, Ruarri walks onto stage and it feels like we are all chilling in someone's lounge somewhere. It's the kinda music that just distracts you from EVERYTHING and you get swept up in the melody. See for yourself...
(Not the best videos - but alas..)
Nervous Grin - Ruarri Joseph
April Spin - Ruarri Joseph
Secondly - Will Varley
I LOVE having friends who are like 'I have a ticket to a gig for tonight, come?!'. Uh, obviously. Now whatever the circumstances of this 'spare' ticket is - who actually cares. It's spare and it's mine now. I meet one of my oldest friends in Hammersmith (and by oldest I don't mean she is old, just that we have been friends since diapers were in fashion and somehow after years and years of separation, from Cape Town to South Korea to London we have found each other and it is such a JOY having her in my life!). Anyway, Will Varley, frankly he is a comedian. A claim to fame of having walked from pub to pub in South East England with his guitar and a tent - he has a story. A hilarious story. It was one of the least structured events I have ever been to in London. Packed into a beautiful old theatre with plush red carpets the crowd all sat on the floor in an indoor picnic type vibe while Will simply entertained us. He has a unique voice that demands to be listened to. His music makes one think about things, many things.
Lost My Mind in Soho - Will Varley
Weddings and Wars - Will Varley
I Got This Email - Will Varley
Thirdly (and lastly) - Tom Odell
This guy. A piano. A voice. A passion. He was just infectious. His performance captivated me. The talent on the piano is next to none other. So many artists now days simply play a few chords on the piano and descend into Elton J smugness BUT Tom Odell has proper skill. Now for me a piano is THE instrument (after the basic acoustic guitar of course). So often I go to gigs and as I trudge (good word) through the crowd to the exit when the lights indicate it's home time, I am bitterly disappointed that the bands never play my favourite songs of theirs - however I realised (at the Will Varley concert actually - revert above - song ONE) that the main reason is that the song almost always contains a piano which is a difficult object to cart from show to show in a VW Beetle or the likes. But not with Tom - considering this is his instrument of choice it took front stage and centre position and WOW what a performance. Speechless, danceless (a mean feat for anyone that remotely knows me!). He is just a talent that none can currently reckon with.
Can't Pretend - Tom Odell
Grow Old With Me - Tom Odell
