Venue:
The Stables
Date: 15/05/2023
I cannot explain why last night was my first Ron Sexsmith gig – it’s just life, dates, calendars, diaries, work, you know? Just ‘stuff’ has got in the way.
I will also confess to being a late-comer to RS, even though I was aware of so many of his songs. It was 2011’s Long Player, Late Bloomer, his 11th album, which drew me in and forced me to go back and discover the window-full of delights from this songwriter-extraordinare.
As everyone had told me, a RS gig is relentless, song after brilliant song, somewhere between 25 and 30 per night, with the odd pause for a self-deprecating joke or a sip of water. One guitar, one baby-grand piano, two monitors and a few mics are all he needs because it’s the songs which are the stars here. We get a ‘greatest hits’ setlist, liberally sprinkled with some songs from his newest album, The Vivian Line, and the whole night is a complete joy. Secret Heart, Lebanon Tennessee, In A Flash, Speaking With the Angel, Gold In Them Hills, Strawberry Blonde, (“I have to concentrate so hard when I sing that one. If I get the verses the wrong way round then it makes no sense.”), Diamond Wave, Get In Line, as I said, it’s relentless, but in a really good way.
He goes off after one hour and fifty minutes, (including a twenty minute break and a change of clothes, “showbiz, eh?”) and returns for an encore, (“that’s a strange little ritual, isn’t it?”) the second of which is not decided until he’s had a sip of water and played a lick on the guitar. You can almost hear the rolodex in his brain clicking before his face lights up and he plays Nowadays, my favourite song he has ever written. It’s like the best dinner you’ve ever eaten, with the best company, and just as you’re thinking that you are fully sated, content and happy, your host puts a glass of Napoleon cognac in your hand and you sigh with happiness.
A truly wonderful night.
The audience:
Lovely, passionate people, willing Ron to relax and enjoy himself – which he does. Oh, and at least two world-class songwriters and a guy who played piano with Waylon.
It made me think..
Songwriters this good don’t come along all that often yet, I’m going to see another one tomorrow night, (hint: she was one of the world-class songwriters in last night’s audience, on, as she described it, “a busman’s holiday.”)
Solo gig? Have seen him live many times and I used to know him a little bit when I lived in Toronto. Yes, a supreme songwriter, but I found the last couple of gigs I saw a bit lacklustre. Glad to hear he apparently has got his mojo back.
As the old saying goes, there’s never a bad time to discover Ron Sexsmith
I keep on meaning to go to my second RS concert. He was excellent in 1995…….
I have his first 9/10* albums but after a recent cull I put them aside to sell as a job lot to sell on an online site.
Maybe I should have a replay of those albums and maybe I’ll change my mind.
Or maybe I should continue to try to convince the Baroness to let me put some more shelves up in the North Turret then I won’t need to cull my collection.
*I haven’t played any of them in quite a while.
I have all of the Ron Sexsmith albums and wouldn’t consider culling them because he is in a class of his own. In terms of melody he takes some beating. Have seen him twice and I had the offer of a ticket for tomorrow night but the gig was in Cheshire and I am currently in Devon. Clue – not going to work.
Great review and am glad he is still touring because I know he had some doubts about himself.
New album is great by the way.
Unfortunately my castle only had two turrets where I can put shelves up for my albums as opposed to your 173 turreted mega-castle.
If the don’t get played they have to go.
Add to the Stars I’ve Made A Cup Of Tea For thread.
My Mastering Engineer chum wrote this about Ron’s Union Chapel gig:
“Singer-songwriter cred gets no better than when Graham Gouldman, Nick Lowe and Peter Bruntnell turn out for your gig and Bob Harris introduces it.”
A musician’s musician.
I was at the Union Chapel show. We got there only about half an hour before Ron started, so naturally there were hardly any seats left downstairs and we ended up in the balcony, from where I was able to spot the unmistakable figure of Nick Lowe in the second row of the stalls. I pointed him out to the GLW, saying “Look, it’s Nick Lowe!” He was quite some distance away, so she said, “Are you sure?” To which I replied, “Well, I think so. It definitely looks like him. I mean, he’s got the white hair and the black glasses.”
She took one look at MY white hair and black glasses and sighed. Then she said “You realise that bloke in the second row is probably looking up here and telling everyone that YOU’RE Nick Lowe”. I had to admit she had a point.
So in the interval I went down to the ground floor and walked past the man with the white hair. Turns out I was right, and he was wrong.
What was he thinking? I look nothing like Nick Lowe! The man’s obviously a fool.
I met Nick Lowe once, the person who introduced me to him was ….. Ron Sexsmith!
To my mind if you can’t get in the front few rows of rows at Union Chapel the upstairs is the best place to go. I saw Nick Lowe there a few years ago, performing not in an audience – though I did see Howard Marks in one of the reserved seats in the front row.
I met Nick Lowe at a Ron concert at the Barbican. I was wearing my “What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding ” tee shirt. I said “Mr. Lowe, may I shake your hand?” He said “Certainly, and I very much admire your taste in tee shirts”.
Never mind the seats don’t forget the cushions.
This time, Nick Lowe was on the stage, singing a song with Ron. Here it is:
Got the first two when they came out back in the mid-/late90s.
While both. of them are pretty good, there always seem to be more deserving (other opinions are available) albums ahead of them in the next up queue. As a result, have not played either in a looooooooooooonnnnnng time. Will definitely get around to giving them another spin at some point as he is criminally under-rated
I’ve got the first two and Long Player Late Bloomer and don’t really feel like I need more. What am I missing? By the way he’s known as Sexy Ronsmith in our house.
You need my American pal TC’s compilation MiniDisc. I think we all do. Does Sexy Ron have a best of?
Retriever is apparently Ron’s favourite of his own albums, so I reckon you should give that a try.
Seconded for Retriever. I’d also give a shout for Cobblestone Runway, which was my entry point. From the opening bars of the intro, I was sold – and then a few songs later, you get Gold In Them Hills, which has moved me to tears on more than one occasion.
His most recent albums haven’t done much for me and I prefer the ones where a producer like Mitchell Froom or Martin Terefe has been able to mould and polish his ideas. The later albums have sounded smaller, presumably since record label budgets have shrunk. I guess that’s just the way Ron likes it – and given the warm reception for the likes of Hermitage and Vivian Line, so does everyone else, so what do I know?
I was at his delayed-for-COVID solo show at the Cadogan Hall last year and, word for word, the above review could have applied to that performance. Heavenly.
Blue Boy for me, Retriever is good too
This slays me every damn time
Graham Gouldman was also at the Union Chapel show, as mentioned above. No sign of Fran Healy, though.
For me, the seven essential Ron Sexsmith albums are as follows:
1995: Ron Sexsmith
1997: Other Songs
1999: Whereabouts
2001: Blue Boy
2002: Cobblestone Runway
2004: Retriever
2006: Time Being
I’ve been a bit disappointed with his stuff since that brilliant opening decade or so. Admittedly, I haven’t heard the new album. Perhaps I should.
Kaisfatdad and I met Ron on one occasion in Stockholm. Really nice guy.