Matt Costa

Following the release of his debut album ‘Songs We Sing' and single ‘Cold December' on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records, I was looking forward to Matt Costa's first foray from Huntington Beach, California, to the slightly less sandy but equally balmy Shepherd's Bush.

As I'm sure you have read, or if you've been lucky enough to have experienced Bush Hall, you will realise this is the most marvellous of places. I shan't ruin it by reeling off some sort of ‘I never studied architecture' description, but if you have been –you know; and if you haven't been – then go - for the venue as much as the fact it's acoustic leanings are delectable to the ear as the ornate ceiling is to the eye.

To kick off the evening, Costa was supported by openers ‘The Red Light Rush', with Humphrey the singer. I know they were called ‘The Red Light Rush' as the hundred or so onlookers were told repeatedly. It draws comparison to listening to the Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson yell ‘We are the Kaiser Chiefs'. I felt that rush of self-empowerment which is sadly rarely acted upon, where I wanted to yell back at Humphrey and the ‘Rush' that we know who they fucking well are as they're all over the posters.

Humphrey, as it turns out, was caught by my friend Steven faking a piss in the toilets asking the visitors to his urinal what they thought of the opening band. ‘What you, you mean?' Steve asked…. ‘What's our name?' asked Humphrey…...

[Camera pans from Gents Loos back to Main Stage and cue Costa] And so Costa took the stage in his plaid shirt with his band – Carson, Fletch and Mitch (you get the idea). He started laying down a few tracks to get everyone going, and very enjoyable they were too. There were a few influences there, notably some Van Morrison type la la las, maybe a twinge of Buffalo Bill on the title track to the album and at a push, a smidgen of the Beatles on ‘Oh Dear'.

Now all of these comparisons are positive, and that's really saying something for a lad who started to write songs only four years ago. His ability belies his experience and I am positive that being sent on a tour round Europe for the first time playing to Dutch, British, French and Swiss fans to name a few, will benefit him greatly. He has a solid stage presence: understated, familiar and relaxed, and it is this presence that runs from live performance fluidly into his songs and what will be a frequently played album. I was impressed by the range of fare which hinted at Donovan influences and a finish helped by Phil Ek, the gent responsible for The Shins.

Overall, I was impressed, enjoyed the gig immensely (apart from passing out on a Nightbus going in the wrong direction afterwards) and I think that Mr Costa has a wide spectrum of appeal and a sound to back it up. I suppose the fact he was on stage doing a well-deserved encore – rather than loitering in the toilets – spoke volumes.