Ollie Childs provides the support with his hilarious combination of stand-up and song. To the tune of ‘Delilah’ he sings ‘Superpoke Me’, a satirical smear on the Facebook craze, through the persona of a (very) lonely man.
Local girl Carly Bryant offers up country vocals with a heartfelt disposition. Connecting well with the audience, she comes across as humble and likeable, interjecting with “I know most of you haven’t paid to see me! Sorry!” ‘Fragility lies’, Bryant says, is about a friend who ‘is finally letting somebody love her’.
Bryant combines poetic lyrics with real technical skill, both at guitar and piano, and the effect is of an accomplished musician with lots more to offer. Her skills as a pianist are obvious with her almost gothic sounds creating an alluring drama. ‘What you say’ is lyrically the most appealing, and tender… simply gorgeous.
Headliner Ben Taylor welcomes us to his complicated world, a world haunted by sirens, a Peruvian Chanteuse, and reincarnations of America itself. Dealing in metaphor, heartbreak and humour, he has the audience on his side from the first note, willing him on. Taylor opens with what sounds more like spoken word than music, something he calls a “spaced out” microphone effect he begins with a heavy sentiment. The next track is a lot lighter as, with perfect comedic timing, Taylor sings about ‘admiring’ a girl’s boyfriend… “I’d love him to be just another fool/but I talked to him once and he seemed really cool” and then… “I love his hair/I love his eyes/before I started to realise/it wasn’t you I loved…”.
Taylor takes us on a journey with him, as he introduces each song we feel we are getting to know him. He has the audience in stitches, crying with both laughter and sadness, and manages to reach out across the venue to create intimacy many acts struggle to find. A rare gem.
Words by Lizzie Simner
Photography by Marta Vidal Riera
myspace.com/bentaylorofficial
What did you think of the gig?
Rebecca Levine: 8/10 “We laughed and cried, we had tears dripping down our faces”
Dionne Marlew: 8/10 “It was amazing”
Chelsey Lillard: 9/10 “It was great, I’ve almost never been so emotional at a gig”
Paul Skinner: 8/10 “Loved it, we’re big fans of his mum and dad, it was a bit different, a really good evening”
Emily Balen: 9/10 “He connected with the audience really well with all the little stories”
