I have seen John Grant a number of times over the past few years and I was keen to see how the new album translated live. It wasn’t a show that I was desperate to see but, went along more out of interest than compulsion. 

Two days later, the more I look back at the show, the more special I think it was. Two hours on stage with a full band, the new songs are a refreshing new direction in style. ‘The Queen of Denmark’ compositions now there as the bedrock of the solo catalogue.

John remains full of passion, anger and compassion and his strength is that he can channel that into his music, with quite startling results. The more electronic feel to aspects of his music feels a refreshing new start and someone moving forward.

A six song encore included the Czar’s ‘Paint the Moon’. it would be great one day if John could revisit some more material from the Czars but, we were grateful for ‘paint the moon’ on the night anyway.

Lap Top still missing but, an amazing show that should live with everyone who was there for quite sometime.

For a couple of hours on Monday evening, a little corner of Cambridge was turned in a sixth street venue from Austin Texas. 

The Junction 2 is a nice intimate venue and a reasonable amount of people where there for American Singer-songwriter Nataly Dawn and guitarist Jack Conte. Original songs laced with humor and heartbreak meant an enjoyable 30 minute set from the pair.

Lord Huron are a 5 piece band led by Ben Schneider from Michigan. The band play, as fine a set of country rock/ Americana as you could wish for. Crammed on a tight stage, sixty minutes soon whizz by, with very little chat, just fine songs, great musicians and lots of dancing in the crowd.

No better way to start the week!

Remaining UK Tour dates

May 16 The Great Escape Brighton,

May 17 Thekla Bristol

May 18 Brudenell Social Club Leeds  May 20 Hare & Hounds Birmingham

May 21 The Cluny Newcastle

May 22 King Tuts Glasgow

May 23 The Deaf Institute Manchester

Website

Heather Trost and Jeremy Barnes are known as A Hawk and a Hacksaw and they gave an audience in Cambridge, a delightful 90 minute set on Sunday evening at the intimate Junction 2 venue.

Jeremy was the drummer with Neural Milk Hotel in a previous life and an expanded drummer he remains this time around with a bass drum and drum slung over his shoulder. He also played a masterful accordion and a table mounted and extremely large Zither which, he played with what looked like 2 small sticks hitting the strings, the sound of which, was amazing.

Heather plays a haunting and exuberant violin in equal measure and the mainly instrumental songs can best be described as being influenced by traditional music from Eastern Europe, The pair also played on the first Beirut album, Gulag Orkestar.

Support on the night came from Cambridge resident and quite wonderful guitarist C. Joynes.  A good 45 minute set on acoustic guitar really demonstrated his skill with the instrument. I could go as far as to say Bert Jansch came to mind whist listening to C Joynes.

So this was, just one of those perfect Sunday gigs.

A Hawk & A Hacksaw are on Yorkshire’s Leaf Label

Edwyn Collins played Cambridge on Monday evening with a new album (understated), a marvellous band behind him and an appreciative crowd in front of him.

To say this guy is an inspiration would be an understatement. On the long road back from his strokes in 2005, he is now on his third full album since that time.  The band has guitarist James Walborne (Peter Bruntnell, The Pretenders) within their ranks who acts a great foil to Edwyn and becomes the centre of attention on a number of electric guitar solos, which in turn must give Edwyn a break from the spotlight.

As you would expect, Edwyn’s speech is slow but deliberate and not lacking in humour. The fact that he can belt out all the songs sitting on top of an amp for a 90 minute set is nothing short of miraculous.

Towards the end he stands for songs including ‘Rip it Up’ (Walborne gets the sax spot, to huge cheers) and Girl like You, leaning on his cane.

Songs back to the early Orange Juice singles through to the new solo record is the span of the set. His son William, joins the band to provide backing vocals for ‘Too Bad (That’s Sad)’, and provides guitar and vocals for ‘See It In Your Eyes’. Sometimes introducing your offspring onto the stage can be difficult but in William’s case it seems perfectly natural. Very much, ‘like father, like son’.

Acoustic encores of ‘Home Again’ and then ‘Blue Boy’  followed’ Don’t Shilly Shally’ Edwyn Collins’ status as a first class singer/songwriter is assured.

Pete