12 January 2018 (gig)
13 January 2018
A delightful evening at London’s The Harrison, headlined by Matt Boulter and with support from Brighton’s Liemba.
A full and really sympathetic crowd were entertained by some superb music and no little gentle humour from the musicians and what was a cold and damp night in Kings Cross turned into a really memorable night.
Liemba opened and their sumptuous 3 part harmonies and twin acoustic guitars really warmed us all up. I would put their sound in the territory of Crosby Still & Nash and they have a really fresh sound that is rarely heard today. I especially liked their switches in pace and tales of Brighton and its denizens but what really put them across was the sheer quality of the vocals. Very special and I will look forward to hearing them again.
MG Boulter followed, playing with just Paul Ambrose on double bass and I found myself completely lost in the music. Ambrose bass was just enough to add a depth to the sound – never overt but subtly adding to Boulter’s high pitch – and really there was no need for additional musicians. Matt treated us to a number of older number as well as some exceptional new ones – ‘Simon Of Sudbury’ & ‘Skulls’ really worked and the haunting ‘Lady Arabella’ about the doomed love of James 1st cousin suggests that his next release is going to be something very special.
As an encore Boulter brought Liemba on for a totally acoustic version – no mikes & no amps – of ‘We Shall Be Released’ that sent shivers down my spine.
Venues like The Harrison are crucial for today’s music scene, giving bands a place to play in a truly intimate setting. Support your local.
