David Emery Online

Talented

26 November 2007

Continuing the rather bitter and grumpy witterings of last week today I’m going to make the rather bold move of talking about music.

Not talking about things about music, or the industry, or the future – none of that.

Just the music.

It’s what it’s all about at the end of the day, after all.

Last Thursday I attended a gig quite unlike any other I’ve been to in quite a while. For a start the tickets said in – rather large pink letters, nestling up to the hologram – ‘Will Young’. And the person on before him was Newton Faulkner. Luckily for my reputation (and everyone else concerned) before him was the utterly stunning Adele, who I’ve written about before but was astonishingly good.

The venue really sealed the deal, as it all took place in London’s Union Chapel which – as you may have guessed – is a church and rather beautiful inside to boot. The acoustics and setting could not have been more perfect for Adele, who live is quite possibly the most talented individual I’ve ever seen. She puts you completely off guard as her pre-song banter is quite loud and brash – in an exceptionally endearing way, I must add – but when she shuts up and starts singing it’s just perfect. I’ve never seen a support act hook in an audience so quickly and completely, but I think it may be impossible to not get hooked in when Adele starts singing.

Don’t get me wrong; Adele is a female singer songwriter, and the music itself is not really my cup of tea, but she completely transcends any conventional genre boundaries.

In utter contrast, but with odd similarities, comes Scout Niblett who this week played the Scala. Certainly it’s not a venue that really lends itself to her music (or really anybody, to be honest) and it was a little quiet, no doubt due to being on a Monday night, but she was something really special. I’m going through a bit of phase of stripped down, minimalist indie-rock (Prinzhorn Dance School are another one on my iPod at the moment) and Scout fits that bill very nicely, and brings to it a wonderful contrast as she is wont to completely rock out at times.

During these ‘rock out’ moments you really can’t help but wonder that if 5 or 6 years ago – when she was just starting out – if instead of going down the solo artist path she found some friends and started a band that it could well have been one of the best alt-rock bands of our time. As it is, she’s simply very very good, although could do with a little editing on some of the slower songs. ‘Kiss’, her last single (featuring Will “Bonnie Price Billy” Oldham), is one of my favourite songs of the year, though.

Also in these photos are a couple of the support act, Florence and the Machine, who were ok – they showed promise, and had good stage presence, but I didn’t hear any songs that grabbed me. And it’s all about the songs, at the end of the day…