Stephen Fretwell - Live In Manchester
[Royal Northern College Of Music]

There is a novel way of breaking down the intimate wall of expectation and pressure, surrounding the stripping down of your bold and masterful musical coat to its acoustic undies. By entering the stage immediately after a brief set of wacky and dramatically performed, pastoral poetry from Carol Batten.

Stephen Fretwell cuts a proud and earnest figure in the spotlight, as ‘William Shatner’s Dog’ instigates the doleful reflection and dawdling vocal stance that creates a laid back atmosphere to the sombre poetic pitch. This builds from a hollow and rumbling intro strikingly similar to that found on The White Stripes’ offering ‘Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground’.

The anthemic ‘Run’ is paraded in a rugged light that bears out the troublesome and longing nature of the song, something that usually hides behind its catching and colourful accompanying stroll. It’s not long before the crowd realises their part in proceedings and fun, frivolous banter entertains while Fretwell wrestles with a few technical gremlins, between songs.

What makes this set special is the fact that new numbers like the hollow and haunting ‘Bumper Cars’, are displayed at their first stage and this number in particular, will probably turn into a bold and strutting emotive burner come the release of forthcoming 3rd album.

Some Bruce Springsteen skirting through ‘San Francisco Blues’, has gatherers nodding like the dog from the Churchill adverts. ‘Emily’ retains its potency, as the momentum builds nicely into the defiant ‘New York’ to bring familiarity to the fore.

The humble Scunthorpe born and Manchester based songster is flanked by a guitarist for the encore, breathing the life required into covers of Elaine Page’s ‘Love Hurts’ and the Chilton Price penned ‘You Belong To Me’. This enables everyone present to leave with a sizeable impression as to this genuine guy’s current mood and thought processes. Mental notes are being made to look out for the looming 3rd album.