Joseph Arthur - Live In Manchester (With Nerina Pallot)
[Manchester Academy 3]

The nimble fingered Nerina Pallot massaged her piano to produce a relaxing feel that displayed her sleek Bjork meditating with Carole King voice, warming hearts in a dedication song; ‘Mr. King’ midway through an enchanting set. The roving piano instrumental facilitated the lushness of Nerina, as she spelt out the power of life changing people with clarity;

“The world is a place and they say it’s on our side,
but I wonder is there comfort if I just laid down and died?
Now, I see Mr King it was in the books you gave me,
Which I read disbelieving thinking poets are depressed.”

It was time for some reflective guitar music, with the humble songstress taking us on the road to ‘Damascus’ that raised smiles and saw select members of the crowd singing contently. Ever the crowd pleaser, Nerina agreed to abandon her well thought out plan and finished with ‘All Good People’, by popular request. This bubbly pop number showed her self-confessed Shania Twain side and ensured the she left the stage re-igniting sales in her latest album; ‘Fires’.

What sort of football match would you get into for seven and a half quid these days? Don’t answer that! Those gathered tonight received a football match worth of quirky Akron, Ohio born beat box and laid back guitar indie from the enigmatic Joseph Arthur. Early inclusion of the favourite from ‘Our Shadows Will Remain’ album; ‘Echo Park’ made for a slightly haunting and brisk commencement to proceedings.

The gripping Joe Henry and early Morrissey vocals of Arthur helped to fire home the poetic lyrics that stunned some gatherers in the earnest; ‘I Would Rather Hide’. The influence of the latter artist was prevalent throughout and came to the fore in the encore, by way of a powerful rendition of The Smiths song; ‘There is A Light That Never Goes Out’. This ensured that Arthur’s bold sound touched a chord with gatherer’s and he left to a rousing reception, as you could not help getting the impression that we have only seen the start of Joseph’s potential, despite him being classed as a veteran in this modern whirlwind of a music industry.