The setting couldn’t be better for an album launch. Flickering candles light the tables and a single spotlight waits for Beerjacket to arrive. The setup is telling in its simplicity and it’s the toughest of musical challenges to face; alone with a guitar. All that you have to do to make it work is be wonderfully talented and Beerjacket happens to be just that.
‘Animosity’ is played in its entirety and enthrals the busy venue. At times it’s difficult to know where to focus, the deft guitar playing or the poised vocals, but the two are combined to perfection and present an impressive body of work.
‘Violent’ starts things off and evokes Elliott Smith at his most stripped back. There’s beautiful restraint, nothing fancy, nothing showy, just precisely what is required to let the soft vocals shine. Something in the lyrics feels heartfelt and lines like ‘What have I become these days’ rather set the tone.
It’s easy to fake melancholy, and insincerity always comes through in a song, thus the note of authenticity in songs like ‘Screaming Hallelujah’ is a joy to behold. A few stamps on the tambourine draw colour but there’s enough in the performance alone to make the song shine. Beerjacket teases light and shade from seemingly nowhere and can get toes tapping and heads nodding to something like ‘The Blues’ before carving out an air of sadness from Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark’ that I never knew existed.
The album sounds fantastic and the show ends with a run of old favourites which get the venue clapping along. A disarming display comes to a close with a rare encore and an audience reminded of this little known talent.
Pic: Bart Photography
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