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Gig Review

Findlay Brown / Angus & Julia Stone / Alberta Cross / Paris Motel
The Arts Theatre, London

Article written by John S - May 21, 2007

The Longing for Latitude night was an interesting precursor to some of the smaller acts at this relatively new Suffolk based festival with the promise of some new music in intimate, theatrical surroundings.

Nine strong gothic folksters Paris Motel kicked off proceedings in the barely half-full, soulless venue and battled gamely with the lack of atmosphere. Amy May�s crystal clear vocals shone through on 071 with its mysterious lyrics counting down from 18 to one. Catherine By The Sea was full of a brightness staying just the right side of twee. The Celtic flavour of things was a traditional take on things, but married with the overall sound made Paris Motel a different prospect altogether.

Alberta Cross�s performance brought an energy to the evening that mixed up gospel, blues and Americana to often thrilling effect with the keys being the backbone to the music. The slow-burning openers comfortably avoided slipping into nothingness and it was with a slight wryness that front man Petter Ericson Stakey introduced �another slow one�. The band is no one trick pony though and Hard Breaks took off at a cracking pace and was over before it really began, but what vigour! The crowd was definitely excited by the Cross.

Australian brother and sister duo, Angus and Julia Stone, had, on paper at least, a tough act to follow. That they pulled it off with aplomb says a lot for the delicate, understated beauty contained in both the songs and their on-stage manner. Filling the venue with only two guitars to start with before the final two members of the band came on stage was not an easy feat, but the appreciative audience were soundly rewarded with wonderful harmonies and an all round tightness that belies their young collaboration. Mango Tree was a joy and Here We Go Again ended in a crescendo of energy.

That the first three bands built up to such a disappointing final act was a surprise to say the least. Findlay Brown � on this performance at least � epitomised everything bad about singer-songwriters. Overall, Brown seemed stuck in a Merseybeat 60s haze and barely a track could hold the audience�s full attention. There were moments of promise: the imagery presented in the opener recalled Nick Drake, Paper Man had steely lyrics, but despite Losing The Will To Survive�s uptempo country rock this was too little too late and after this performance as apt a closer as could have been.

Links:
http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk