Reviews

James Blunt (c) Deborah Law

He’s dressed in jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket. With his guitar casually slung over his right shoulder, he walks up to his microphone and with a single word, sends the assembled into apoplexy. The space around me is suddenly filled with people clambering to get a glimpse of their hero.

No sooner was that dealt with than he’s sitting at his upright piano, and as the intro for Give Me Some Love fills the room, the curtain dramatically drops and his four- piece band is revealed. The drums are set toward the back of the stage, slightly to the left high upon a riser. His guitarist is placed to the extreme left and the bass player is standing close to the piano on the right of the stage. Onstage floor lighting dramatically enhances the visibility and depth of the stage and the musicians on it.

The enormous screen at the back of the stage displays dramatic scenes from Al Gore’s The Inconvenient Truth. This imagery combined with a rich powerful sound, simmering excitement and James’s vocal intensity made the whole thing stunning.

James Blunt (c) Deborah Law

Other high points include the female audience participation on the song: Goodbye My Love. This is extremely moving, as are the scenes of war and devastation during the song, No Bravery.

Meanwhile, I’ll Take Everything reveals itself as You’re Beautiful’s Dr Hyde. It is anticipated that this song will go on to be the favoured tune of the estranged and soon to be divorced…very fitting I say!

The most striking thing about this show is that there are hardly ever any low points. Each song is as dramatic and carefully choreographed as the last and the lighting and sound are spectacular.

My only criticism is that there is virtually no spontaneity apart from some onstage antics by James, which are slightly embarrassing. Nevertheless, in retrospect, the audience loved it, James could do no wrong, and that is all that matters I suppose.