Newton Faulkner Gig Review

I quite like loud, lively music, and have generally remained apathetic towards modern male singer songwriter music as I tend to find it doesn't improve on what has gone before, most pertinently during the 60s. And yes, I know that's a huge generalisation, but in areas of apathetism I tend towards the general.

Newton Faulkner falls into this category, although before I attended his gig at the Hall For Cornwall I had probably only heard a couple of his songs on the radio, and one of those was the sweet but safe rendition of Massive Attack's 'Teardrop', and so my judgement was threadbare at least. And I'll say it now, I wouldn't have gone if it hadn't been free due to an old friend of mine being in Faulkner's employ. But go I did, and glad I am of it.

Faulkner has a strong Cornish following as his breakthrough partly came as a result of a gig at the same venue some time before, and so he couldn't really lose with the crowd. His stage presence was friendly, cheery and reactive, and even when a few idiots kept on shouting out interupting him he carried on regardless, which is a sign of a performer confident in his reportoire and repartee. As some may have seen on Never Mind The Buzzcocks weeks before, he also has a keen self-depreciating wit, and all this combined kept everyone comfortable in his company.

Musically, for me there were maybe 5 or 6 songs that really grabbed me, and mostly for the splendid use of his guitar, by plucking, tapping, strumming and more. The best of his songs, which I'm afraid I'm unable to name any of which (an unforgivable sin in a review I know), used unconventional chord structures, clear, concise and clever lyrics, and a keen ear for an impressive melody.

The use of extra instrumental sections was also innovative, both from the pedalled string section and the prerecorded melodica and backing vocals that were delivered from a projection screen featuring Faulkner's always entertaining features. There was though much fodder, especially in the mid section of the gig, which could have been stolen from the lost reaches of Ben Harper or Jack Johnson, and my long legs were noticably aching for some time, a sensation I don't normally get until well after a good all round gig.

I suspect that many of those attending would not have minded this however, and indeed got what they expected. Me, I left with a smile, which meant it was worth the petrol money at least, but I can't admit to being left with a desire for more. There was the odd occasion from my position to the right of the stage nearish the back (I noted a certain other reviewer at one point not far behind me) when I wished it were the sublime Tim Minchin (see last week's Jonathan Ross on iPlayer for his genius) on stage, which I occasionally thought it might almost have been. But I'm not complaining.

Good For: Fans who bought the CD, those who enjoy a relaxed gig with a bit of a laugh, fans of the Blackstreet Classic No Diggity (Faulkner's half-cover was very fun).
Bad For: Those with limited attention spans, the easily and medium easily bored, Lee Trewhela.

Some Time Later....

This is an interim post which no-one will probably read. Hopefully.

but basically I've written nothing since god knows when on here, and may now start writing a bit more. Should probably jazz up the look of things here, but probably won't.

All I'm really trying to say is that what came before this post was another time, another place, and what comes from now will be more frequent and hopefully more varied.

Anyway, without further adieu...