Saturday night saw a six band bonanza at a venue I'd not experienced yet, the sprawling Hop in Wakefield.
Headliners were the fabulous Nine Black Alps with the other bands on the bill being made up from local label Philophobia Music stable including The Do's, The Spills and The Ainsley Band. Jammed in the middle of this line-up was Tony Wright, ex of And So I Watch You From Afar, and now performing as solo artist VerseChorusVerse.
By his own admission, he was the only acoustic artist on a rock bill, and expressed his sympathies for the 20 or so gathered at the early slot of 7.20. I did fear for him as he started because people were either chatting, getting drinks, or generally waiting around for the headliners, however after urging the meagre gathered to move closer, it started to feel like an intimate personal performance.
Kicking off with songs from his excellent eponymous debut, the lack of backing band didn't seem to matter as he is one talented guitarist. Tony is a tiny Irishman, with a shock of curly red hair, and what a set of lungs!
Considering his previous band were instrumental, he obviously felt the need to break free and get his voice heard. Between songs chat was funny and engaging and the crowd grew and warmed to him as the set rolled by. Halfway through, out came an acoustic Fugazi cover, a deliberate deference to the taste of the audience which went down well.
A couple of my favourites from the album weren't played, I guess not particularly suited to one man and his acoustic guitar, but this didn't matter as the woefully short half an hour sped by. Even a string coming loose mid-way through the closing track didn't matter as he signed off with another cover.
So, a thoroughly nice guy, an excellent debut album and a talent that meant he certainly held his own amongst an electric bill. I just hope he gets chance to play larger crowds sometime soon and get his music more widely heard.
Keith @kjsmith4082
VerseChrousVerse's debut album is available on itunes