29 October 2009 (gig)
05 November 2009
Musician/songwriter Charlie Winston is little known in his native England. Which is a shame, for the is no reason as to why his captivating blend of hobo blues, folk blues, jazz and indie pop shouldn’t take off on British soil as well.
Indeed, judging from Charlie’s show-stopping gig at the Islington Academy, a thrilled audience clearly appreciated some continental sophistication!
Sporting his trademark trilby and waistcoat 'n’ tie outfit, the dapper dandy had the crowd in his hands from the word go. In turn, the crowd barely stopped clapping hands even during his songs. How fitting then that one of Charlie’s tracks, In Your Hands, complimented both band and audience.
Things really got hot with the upbeat I’m A Man while the audience (comprised of male and female Winstonians alike) had great fun singing along to My Life As A Duck. Charlie delighted fans and novices alike with a repertoire from his two albums as well as his ecstatic dance moves, at one point culminating in him dancing across the bar and splashing the cheering crowd with beer. With his Cheshire cat grin and seemingly effortless steps and moves, Charlie gives a certain other 'cat in the hat’ a run for his money. He even moonwalked cross-stage, and while that particular routine might not eclipse the famous Michael Jackson walk just yet, he did a damn fine job with it by any standards. There were some quieter moments when Charlie played solo tracks on the piano and on his guitar. For the most part of the show, however, he and his band of virtuoso musicians played together in perfect harmony.
Several of Charlie’s tracks are spiked with French lyrics for good measure. In particular Tongue Tied with its reminiscences of traditional song writing a la Jaques Brel might explain why the artist strikes a chord with connoisseurs of Parisian jazz café culture. So much in fact that one of his biggest fans – French actress Audrey Tautou (Amélie / The Da Vinci Code) will be appearing in one of his next videos! Still, it would be nice to see (and of course hear) more of Charlie Winston in venues across the UK. His incredible performance at the Academy has hopefully left a permanent mark, and his fans craving for more.
(Please read the Charlie Winston interview here on Music-News.com)
