Tonight was a night of poetic lyrics and understated music. First support act Small Town Jones took to the stage, down in front of the tiered seating set up in the Phoenix Centre's main auditorium, an unprepossessing pair with a slightly nervous, scruffy appearance. Appearances were deceptive, however: hunched up over his acoustic guitar stooping to reach the microphone, singer Jim Jones' voice and songs work perfectly with the sound and style, an almost mumbled Americana supported by beautiful guitar playing with rhythmic fingerpicking and swooping slide guitar.
Headline act Ethan Johns has a completely different sound and style, but shares both slide guitar and poetic lyrics, introducing his set informally while tuning up his guitar in a denim jacket, wide brimmed hat and torn jeans, his beard jutting out from the shadows of the hat. His spoken voice is very English, while his singing voice is part Bob Dylan, part Lou Reed, and quite definitely American.
The set starts with acoustic numbers, including The Turning, before he brings the band on and the set gradually picks up pace, going into rough and raw electric blues with moments Johns describes as 'Space Jam', before dropping gradually back down to his quieter more country/folk style to finish.
I cannot fault the musicianship of Johns or his band, but I can't help but feel that the more acoustic numbers suit his rambling, slightly off kilter delivery and poetic lyrics better than the heavier, bluesy sound, but that's my personal choice. Certainly it is difficult to fit Johns into any normal or mainstream category, but perhaps that's not surprising from a man who's been a well-respected producer for many different bands and artists, leading to a wide range of influences and ideas. If you like your music intentionally rough around the edges but with beautifully crafted lyrics I'd highly recommend investigating Ethan Johns.
↧