Birmingham Symphony Hall was the venue for tonight’s performance of Netwon Faulkner. Warming up the ever Increasing crowd was Charlotte O’Connor from Blackburn and whilst I enjoyed her set I couldn’t help thinking that she had studied at the Diana Vickers school of performing arts. I had taken a look beforehand at YouTube clips and am glad to say that these gave no real indication of her talents.

Strong vocals, not that understandable,helped somewhat that she gave a little background on certain songs. Charlotte performed vocals and guitar and was accompanied by a second guitarist and percussionist, the latter chose an acoustic tea chest over the more conventional drum kit.

I was spoilt tonight as Newton is one of my favourite singer/songwriters and the venue was a plus what with the Symphony Hall being condusive to my closet agoraphobic personality. The stage setting was very minimalistic comprising of two carpets, a chair, two screens and Newton’s array of eclectic musical Instruments.

From the outset Newton immediately transformed the large and pristine venue with one akin to a more intimate and close atmosphere. His opening conversation captivated the crowd and his gentle well spoken nature carried his constant humour well throughout. He explained his inability to take himself seriously and this was obvious as he poked fun at the more serious guardians of the music industry, but again done in a self effacing way.

The first half of tonight’s concert had a chilled feel with songs such as ” I took it out on you” and “I need something to believe In” performed superbly filling the gaps with wit and humour and involving the crowd with vocal participation to their delight. The second half showed us his appreciation and personal approach to favourite songs like Dead or Alive’s ” You Spin Me Round”, Regulate’s “No Diggity” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Massive Attacks “Teardrop” was done to a T! and somehow he seemed to own these songs as If they were Newton originals! These songs mingled well with his own as he went on to perform “This is it”, “Lipstick Jungle”, “Ageing superhero and “Anal probe”.

This raw acoustic set was only enhanced by the singers passion for multicultural sounds even with Newton on the big screen video earlier recorded making it transparent that there was no backing needed from anyone else. You can’t appreciate this mans talent both vocally and instrumentally by listening to one of his CD’s as when he plays live you get a glimpse of a powerful almost rock vocal talent which you cannot help feeling he reins In for most of the performance.

Throughout the show his fingers ran up and down the neck of his guitar like a brides nightie, the left hand plucking the strings whilst the right performs percussion and creates a one man band on a single guitar. The final minutes saw the audience involved with a “pirates with rabies” segment aimed at getting the audience to really sing back his lyrics like a rabid pirate! This aided with visual images on the big screens was simple yet humorous.

All in all tonight was probably one of the best gigs I have seen in a long time by not just a singer or songwriter but the charisma and star quality of a truly fine performer.

Review – Dave Edwards
Photos – John Mason