Charlie Simpson at the Tabernacle.

I knew I was the wrong person to review Charlie's show at the Tabernacle last week. fortunately I got chatting to some fans in the bar afterwards... They put me straight in no uncertain terms. I asked one of them; a Portuguese girl named Teresa Teles to write a review for the blog.  Here it is:

Teresa Teles writes:

Last Tuesday Charlie Simpson performed for the first time as a solo artist. This date sold out approximately three weeks in advance and, as expected, Charlie was anxious as he tweeted: 'Show day nerves starting to kick in! Very excited though.'

As 6 o'clock approached the fans started to gather around the building, eager for the doors to open. It has been said that this was the most popular event the Tabernacle has ever held.

At around 7.40 pm the supporting act, The Xcerts, opened the concert. The band cheered up the punters with a few acoustic numbers as they waited for the big man to show up. Twenty minutes later Charlie Simpson joined the stage and was received by a happy and cheering crowd. Thorns was the opening song. The more devoted fans had already had the chance to hear this song almost a year ago.

The crowd was enthusiastic and so was Charlie. At the end of Thorns, we could see how happy he was. His public  liked what he was doing. This was not a common show – most of the songs performed have not yet been released. (Young Pilgrim will be soon.) So the people were given new melodies. And they liked it. Once could say that the most appreciated moment was when Charlie performed his 'so played on radio and TV shows' new single Down Down Down. A great moment. But again the crowd the was amazed by another Simpson song: one he said he had written a couple of days before – Please Let Me Go. Magic was done. Charlie was on his own on the stage with his guitar playing this touching and beautiful song. I was told some people even shed tears.

After a few more songs, there was no place for doubt – Charlie Simpson is going to become big as a solo artist and even Fightstar fans are enjoying this project.

The show closed with The Farmer and his Gun, a more cheery number.

Peel your eyes and hearts because this man is going to hit the charts.

The play list was as follows:

Thorns
Cemetery Gates
Down Down Down
Sun Down
Hold On
Need a Friend
Parachutes
If I hide
Please Let me Go
All at Once
Farmer and his Gun

Get Down Down Down from Itunes here:http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/down-down-down-single/id431245239

Pre-order Young Pilgrim, the new solo album here: Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Young-Pilgrim-Charlie-Simpson/dp/B004XC37LU/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303384976&sr=1-3 Play.com http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/19681595/Charlie-Simpson-Young-Pilgrim/Product.htm

Uniq the poet. Walking.

Charlie Simpson at the Tabernacle.

A full house at the tab tonight, obviously Simpson fans and here for Simpson; a good looking, charismatic man. I know nothing about him or his music. Fortunately this happened: http://jannieupjur.blogspot.com/2011/05/charlie-simpson-at-tabernacle_16.html

notes for a poem.

If only we could identify the Love DNA .There would be testing clinics in every town. A super clinic in Oxford Street Queues round the block



Testing their love:

The old men and their Bankok brides
Spotty oiks and village bikes
Ballerinas, ballerinas
Old lovers, new lovers, perhaps not lovers at all
Scientists with actresses
Barristers and rough diamonds
Artists and bank managers
Ghosts and priests
Goths and poets.

All testing.In the departments of love:

A tattoo parlour
Gown shop
Cake shop, florist
Wedding chapel, Elvis present daily
Hallmark card shop
white goods, bedroom sets
Lingerie and soft fruit.

Receptacle for redundant dildos
Viagra falls by the chocolate fountain
Cubic Zirconiums as big as the ritz.

Cinema screening non stop rom coms
Pretty girls with trays of condoms
Pretty boys with trays of condoms
Hotel rooms for love struck non doms.

'Soul Food' at the Tabernacle.

'Soul food' described itself  in the Tabernacle calendar as 'A feast of talent to feed mind and nourish your soul'. apart from that I had nothing to go on as to what was in store on Sunday night.

Well they were right and it is and I came away smiling. Soul Food is a Spoken word and musical collation with Carribean spicing. and very well done.

I have always been an admirer of the story telling tradition from those Islands; I remember being enthralled as a young man listening to lyrical, often hilarious, tales told by an old man I once had the luck to know. His tales helped me on my way to being a poet. the tradition is living on here in Notting Hill.

Mosaique

There were a lot of acts on the bill, of a consistently high standard. too many to name individually here (I'll be posting a full review on the Tabernacle website) ranging from the singing of the very young and surprisingly confident 'Shaleah' who must be heading to good things. Uniq the poet caused me once again to consider rap as poetry. 'Mosaic' was very very good, hard to define his style and material but I'm going to go with 'Theatre for voice'. Catch him if you can.

And the evening went on. Heidi Vogel impressed me with her wonderful voice, deep tones and bossa nova. Kat Francois is an observational comedian (among many other talents) who defies any critic who says that women don't make good comedy. I get to see quite a lot of comedy, rarely do I laugh as much as during her set. She has a Theatre Royal show coming up. Well worth checking out.

The evening was hosted by the Delicious Princess and Jason grant and produced by Afropick. We are assured that soul Food will return. I shall be there. Might even try to get on the bill.

Loco Cabaret @ the Grand Union. Review of sorts.

Bloody hell, that was good.

Thanks to everyone who came down to the Grand Union last night. It was great fun. The place rocked. James and Dan are putting together a very cool fortnightly event which attracts some serious performers. I'm not going to list them all but they know who they are. Here is the fb page

Thanks to Dan Antrobus for the guitar solo; you are a star Dan.

I have a feeling that this night will rapidly outgrow the limited space at the Grand Union, let's hope they move it into the garden for the summer.

The next one is in two weeks time. Be there.

Orlando Seale & the Swell Tabernacle video

these streets. orlando seale and the swell at the tabernacle from emma seale on Vimeo.

Loco cabaret @ the Grand Union W9. Saturday 7th May.

Hosted by James Simmins and Dan Antrobus, this fortnightly show features regular artists & special guests as well as encouraging new performers.


I shall be there doing some poetry stuff but more importantly having a very splendid time.


Previous review HERE

Tonights line up  includes Many of the usual suspects plus:
Holly Robens
Stuart Frobisher
Cristian Aftershave &
Freak Elite

With poetry from
Tristan Hazell

Plus Special Guests

Charlie Simpson @ Tabernacle W11 next Tuesday.

Charlie Simpson will play a one-off show at London’s Tabernacle on May 10th.

This is the first chance to see the new musical incarnation of the Fightstar frontman live.

 "Down Down Down", the multi-textured debut solo single taken from Charlie Simpson’s forthcoming album "Young Pilgrim" is currently Fearne Cotton’s Record of the Week on Radio 1.  It is available to download from iTunes now, with an impact date May 16th.

Win tickets to see elbow play St Pauls Cathedral crypt.

I know this is a little 'off' the manor but Elbow at St Paul's looks like one of those things that shouldn't be missed. Tickets are not on sale but can be won in THIS COMPETITION courtesey of Absolute Radio.

The Island Experiment and rock n roll poetry.

It would be incredibly naff to review an event in which I took part.  However,

The Island last night was great fun, Wade puts on a very good local showcase (rather than open mic) event but when I say local I don't mean parochial I mean it is in a 'Local' with a big loyal following which attracts acts from all over the place.

Last night's line up was consistently good with one or two demonstrating great talent. I'm not going to put a list here, there is a link to the Island Experiment fb page on the right.

On a personal level My poetry was kindly received and thanks to the presence of house bassist Patrick and Roger Pomphrey I was able to do my rock n roll poem with guitar solo. Always a high point for me when I find a willing collaborator.

If you are ever in NW10 on a Wednesday night You could do no better than get down to the Island.

My poem 'Poetry is the new Rock n Roll' will be getting another airing at Loco Cabaret @ the Grand Union W9 on Saturday night with Dan Antrobus providing the solo.

Rebecca Poole at the Cobden Club May 20th.

Catch Rebecca prior to her Ronnie Scott's Gig on 31st May and stardom. Don't just take my word for it: "Rebecca Poole is one of the brightest stars on the jazz soul circuit" According to Jazz Fm and she is at the Cobden Club W10 on the 20th 0f May. Her last single 'What Happened to Romance' was playlisted by Jazz FM and picked up by BBC Introducing. It is now available to download from Itunes. Rebecca is a farmers daughter from Oxforshire who fell in love with Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. "I write songs that are a mix of vintage swing and modern day pop. I'm a true romantic so I think of old fashioned love and it's contrast with today and twist a bit of humour in".

Jake Emlyn. I Don't Rap.