I was back at The Albert Hall on Saturday night to see John Grant, the venue far fuller than it was the night before for The House Of Love (and in an unprecedented turn of events I was offered a ticket for Parquet Courts on Sunday night but 3 nights on the bounce was pushing it). I'm not really familiar with much of John Grant's work and was offered the ticket by a friend who'd got a spare. Grant is promoting his new album Love is Magic and spent much of the gig alternating between standing centre stage at the mic singing in his rich baritone over club-inspired thumpers, Roland synth basslines squiggling away, and sitting at the keyboards and playing more personal songs, accompanied by a full band including ex- Banshee and Creature Budgie on drums. Budgie's contribution was immense, live kit plus electronic drum pads. Dressed in cowboy shirt and trucker gap with a heavy beard Grant looks like he's come straight out of the Mid-West but his dancing suggests time spent in nightclubs and his lyrics are full and frank and witty. I'd listened to this one before going out...
I'm not enough of a fan to be able to tell you exactly which songs were played- the internet tells me that Glacier, Disappointed, No More Tangles, Pale Green Ghost and Voodoo Doll were favourites among those who were there. A lot of his songs reminded me of film songs or show tunes, clever lines detailing a life lived with mistakes but few regrets. Set closer Queen Of Denmark, a song I did know before the gig, was a highlight, the crowd singing along with him and waving their hands in the air. The last few songs saw Richard Hawley appear, double denim and red guitar, spraying feedback across the front of the stage and then playing face to face.
This song was second up, Grant's hips wiggling and hand gestures cutting shapes in the light show. Well worth a few minutes of your time today.
4 comments:
Another great review SA, it sounds as though Grant puts on quite a show. I can't believe you didn't go the extra mile for Parquet Courts though!
John Grant has the unenviable position of being both a well kept secret and a chart act at the same time! I featured him a few months back in my very irregular Voices you Can't Afford To Miss series (series is pushing it) and I looked back at it recently and it needs an update as some of my youtube links are dead. That said, I am a massive fan of his very ordinary bass/baritone and clever lyrics! His ability to go from "New Folk" to SynthPop and Dance with aplomb, is rare. HIs latest, Love is Magic is potentially my favorite release to date. It ticks all the boxes for me and He's Got His Mother's Hips is literally my theme song (thanks again Mom.)
John Grant is another artist that will feature very high in my year end run down, which is entering it's final review. Those who care will have to wait until the week before Xmas for it's daily unveiling...
An amazing performer mate. I was getting into him but have devoured his back catalogue. He was in a band called The Czars. Bit more rocky than his usual stuff
John Grant's ballad structures reminds me of The Carpenters (not good) but his lyrics come from somewhere else altogether. Rather than cheesy sentimentality, he sings more about perhaps the things that where going on in Karen Carpenter's head (or any other person's head), that is the neurosis and idiocies of modern living. Perhaps if Karen could have sung it out she might be alive today.
S.R.C. (Socialist Republic of Canterbury)
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