An Emotional Rollercoaster Of A Night
I'd just like to start by saying that tonight's gig was not actually in my diary. I'd planned on a cosy night in... early night for once, however the lure of a gig suggested by a friend changed all that.
I've never seen Richard Hawley before and to be honest, probably never knowingly listened to him. However, I was not prepared for what my ears were about to hear, and my heart about to endure. As the lights dimmed Hawley wandered on to stage, with his band. Dressed in his denim attire and slick hair, he looks every bit a performer from a bygone era.
Then it started...
The first song is "Which Way", from last years' Hollow Meadows' album. It’s a great opener... fuzz guitar and great solo work from Hawley. This is swiftly followed by a nostalgic Americana love song "Tonight the Streets are Ours". "I Still Want You" is up next. As the song progresses I can feel myself relaxing into the old cinema seats of the Apollo. So diversely different are the first three songs that it’s hard to put Hawley into any category. He is very talented and a fantastic songsmith.
"Leave Your Body Behind You" shows that alongside emotional love songs, he can still deliver a rock tune that excites the crowd.
"Sometimes I Feel" follows. What starts out as an acoustic based track magically turns into a phsycadelic trip of tune. Simply brilliant. And I get it... the way he layers his songs. Breathtakingly powerful at times, romantically emotional at others.
"Open Up Your Door" gets a loud cheer as the opening chords are delivered. And justly so. It’s a beautiful song that showcases the singer’s fantastic vocal ability that touches every single person in the theatre tonight. As I look around I can see several people with teary eyes.
To be honest it prompted me to text someone 500 miles away and say I loved them. Thanks for that Richard. Anyway, moving swiftly on...
Two more standout tracks are "Don't Stare At The Sun" and the quite brilliant "There's a Storm Coming". To say I was surprised by tonight's performance would be an understatement. It was emotional, powerful, and full of romantic memories that stirred up inside me. It’s a night that will stay with me for a very very long time indeed. Thank you Mr Hawley, I’m now very much a fan.
