Teddy Thompson

The Queen’s Hall plays host tonight to a graceful evening of live music from Teddy Thompson and special guest Tift Merrit. Both acts have a calming presence that is complimented by the charming venue and its atmospheric layout. First on is Tift Merrit, an American performer with only a piano and acoustic guitar in tow.

Tift Merrit is more than a songwriter, she is a storyteller. Her lyrics float as elegantly across the room as her presence through the hall. The singer herself agrees that Queens Hall is a majestic place to play and as her sweet voice whispers through the audience, its clear to see that she is truly engrossed by the venue.

Tift is joined by tonight’s main act, Teddy Thompson for a slow and mesmerising number; our first taster of what Teddy’s show shall resemble. After the collaboration, it’s time for Teddy to perform his set. Unlike Tift, Teddy brings to the stage a full band to accompany his voice. Teddy is smooth and poetic, a charismatic concoction seemingly perfected for tonight’s sophisticated show.

There’s notes of Rufus Wainwright and Will Hoge in there, but not much variety to Teddy’s performance. It would have been more delightful for Teddy to spice up his concert with a few livelier numbers rather sticking to the same mundane path. Each song seems to blend into the last, and even when he plays songs without his backing band, Teddy’s style does not swither.

Playing his set for nearly 2 hours, it appears that Teddy Thompson is too much of a good thing. Listening to an album, or a couple of tracks, Teddy is very easy to fall in love with. But sitting in a balcony for such a long time gazing down at Teddy as he performs his bland, dull set is enough to put any fan off.

Despite what’s been covered, this evening’s show has been more than a gig; there’s been candlelight, elegant attire and a charming host. To see Teddy Thompson in this atmosphere is to see him in his element; it’s hard not to leave feeling utterly charmed by the urbane Teddy Thompson and the Queen’s Hall.