Venue:
Cambridge Corn Exchange
Date: 03/02/2016
Former Czars frontman John Grant won plaudits for his beautiful debut album Queen of Denmark, full of sweeping love and hate songs skewed with bitterness and off-kilter humour. A smattering of eerie synth sounds were heard in the undergrowth, but it wasn’t until his next record, Pale Green Ghosts, that they broke cover. This lost him some of his fans, who preferred the more simple acoustic balladry; but it was when he won me over. Live, Ghosts is always astonishing: last night was no different, with a smiling Grant conducting the eyeball-rattling beats, throbbing synths, and faux-brass stabs like a dad-dancing preacher. Looking like a Viking discovering ecstasy for the first time, he continued hip-wiggling to the funkier offerings from his latest album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure – with the adrenalin-charged live arrangements adding weight and exuberance to songs like Guess How I Know, You And Him, and the soaring Disappointing.
Grant’s regular touring band is an impressive unit: Petur Hallfrimsson on guitar and Jakob Smari Magnusson on bass bring industrial heft and their own brand of Icelandic funk; and Coventry-born keyboard virtuoso Chris Pemberton is a master knob-twiddler who can also do fragile virtuosity (his piano-playing at the climax of Glacier was sublime). And then there’s the new addition on drums: Budgie. With his beaky nose aloft, his floppy fringe flying, and his gloved hands waggling his black, white-tipped drumsticks, he looked for all the world like a double wanded-up Professor Snape, showily conjuring rhythmic spells.
But it’s John Grant’s voice that elevates his shows from good to great. Whether he’s camping it up on the electro-pop Prince-like Snug Snacks, blasting out the distorted chorus of Guess How I Know, or sitting at the piano performing the tender Caramel he’s totally in control. It’s a voice that can croon, lacerate, caress, amuse, shock, and mesmerize. It’s a force of nature.
The audience:
From my position (right at the front of the crowd, just 10ft from Mr Grant!), it looked like an ‘older’ crowd. Support act Icelandic singer songwriter Sóley (performing some dreamy, delicate, looped tunes) thanked us for being so polite, and asked us what we were studying, and the answer for most was probably ‘the onset of middle age’). Incidentally, after her set, I had a good view of her getting her tassles caught in some drapes at the back of the stage and having to be released by two roadies, which was extremely entertaining.
It made me think..
It made me think: I like John Grant on record. I love him live.
Great review Drakey. He lost me with Ghosts which I kind of like in moderation and not wholeheartedly like I did Denmark. However I have heard a song from the new album on 6music a number of times and I REALLY like it so the album will be purchased. As a personality I he appeals to me too – acerbic and funny in equal measure.
The new one is a definite grower – but then I’ve found that with all of his solo albums. The lyrics are immediately appealing, but the melodies and arrangements take a while to get under your skin. Give it time to breath.
Interestingly, I lived the new album right from the off. Instantly hooked…..
off to see him for the umpteenth time at southampton tonight.
he’s always good 🙂
Great review! Saw him in the Weedge on this tour. *Outraged* that he has stolen all my dad-dancing moves.
Thanks for the review! I’ve seen him a couple of times in the last few years and adored every second.
I’m not too blown away by the new album yet but I think that’s simply because I haven’t listened enough times to let it creep in.
I’m seeing him at the Royal Albert Hall in June and I reckon that’s going to be another good one.
Professional level review DG! I’m the opposite to you. I a was bewitched by Q of D and had to give PGG a few listens before I got it. Saw him when he was touring that at The Roundhouse and it was spectacular. I must say that I have found the new one impossible to get into, dunno why: maybe it’s the tank top he’s ŵearing on the cover.
Having read your review, though, I reckon I’d love it to bits if I’d been to the show.
Either way, John Grant is definitely one of the good guys…
my appreciation of the new album has gone up immeasurably since the show.
often the way.
Thanks for the review Drakey. Seeing him up here in Sheffield for the 1st time in a few days – and your review has whetted my appetite even further.
I don’t know the QoD but the last 2 albums have been great.
Queen of Denmark is really good. Drop some hints for Valentine’s Day, although on second thoughts, some of the lyrics aren’t exactly ‘appropriate’…