Wow. What a show! Last night, I was blown away by one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Ron Sexsmith. We managed to score tickets to a very intimate gig (less than 400 people for sure), at a fantastic venue at the Roundhouse near Chalk Farm. Ron was preceded on stage by a British songwriter, whose name I forget, something Weston, who had a decent voice and some funny stage banter, but whose lyrics paled in comparison to the master from St. Catharines.
Ron was obviously nervous which just served to add to his charm. He comes across as quite a shy performer, but who knows his niche as a songwriter. He was self-deprecating at exactly the right moments, and was even good when the London crowd started making puns out of his song titles. He admitted from the start that he didn't have a set list, so it wasn't long before the crowd started shouting out titles for him to play. His voice soared over his rhythmic guitar playing, and I was surprised that his voice is just as powerful, melodic, and moving, live as it is on his records. In fact I would even go so far as to say that the live versions of his songs are more powerful when stripped bare of the drums, bass, and other accompaniement.
Ron has a new album coming out entitled "Exit Strategy of the Soul" and I urge all of you to go out and get it. If the spattering of tunes that we heard last night from it are any indication of the album as a whole, it will be a treat indeed.
I like Ron Sexsmith too....interesting fact is that I nearly walked down the aisle to his song "Tommorrow in her Eyes".
Posted by: Vn | July 07, 2008 at 01:15 PM