Jim White
We are very lucky in
Guildford in having our own independent record shop – People Records.
That chap that runs it, Howard, seems to be totally in tune with people like
us. Over the past couple of years he has slowly started to produce small
scale gigs, and we have been to several. The latest was also the biggest, as
he had taken the large church at the top of the high street for a singer
songwriter called Jim White. We were unsure, not quite working out where he
was coming from, but for £10 and only a short walk from home, why not? But first there was Dan Michaelson
and the Coastguards, the support act, to get through. Actually I
didn’t mind their dirges too much as the music behind it was rather
nice. No tunes or melodies, however, and the gravel-voiced singer was incomprehensible. They seemed to have taken the Sparklehorse muse, but removed out the cheerful
bits. Just before 9.00 Jim White
asked if we were all ready and started his performance. The only reference
point I can give you is Billy Bragg. Like Billy the talk was as important as
the music. He took over 15 minutes to introduce one song, surely some sort of
record. Jim played electric guitar while his sidekick Paul played a variety
of instruments with great skill and finesse. He also whistled as a remarkably
effective accompaniment. The music could be loosely described as Alt. Country
with some blues, if that gives you some idea. It was a fascinating
evening. The audience was reasonably large, and I suspect few knew a great
deal about him. Between songs he laid his life bare, talking about his
addictive personality and his rejection of Jesus who he had eventually turned
to. The fact that he was playing anti-God songs in church seemed to be a
genuine challenge to him. The atmosphere slowly changed from some
bewilderment, to interest to respect to affection. A few people did quietly
slip away as 11.00pm came and went, almost certainly to catch trains and he
eventually, reluctantly, closed just before 11.30. The audience stood and
applauded and Jim just stayed on stage, offering to sell his shirt for Medicine sans Frontier. It was an
extraordinary evening, and if his personality was perhaps the biggest
attraction, his songs were excellent and Paul provided some real magic with
his subtle touches. We will buy some CDs I am sure, but equally I know these
can only be reminders; for the performance was so much more than just singing
some songs. |
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you would like to comment on any of these Blog pieces please email me on: bjc@briancreese.co.uk