My nonchalance in buying a ticket for Luka Bloom's visit to Warwick Arts Centre on Sunday evening was borne out of an ignorance that appeared to have kept all other teenagers away. I had just a passing acquaintance with a couple of tracks - most familiarly 'Exploring the Blue' - but sufficient interest to judge attendance worthwhile, or at least, worth a fiver.
Born Barry Moore, ten years the junior of brother Christy, Bloom adopted his new moniker on a flight to New York in 1987. Repeated tours of the USA, Australia and Europe followed, including support slots for the Pogues and the Dixie Chicks among others. Now a dozen albums later, this intimate theatre gig was the last night of his first UK tour in ten years - and there can't have been a better one all run.
From the moment of his briskly cheery entrance, accompanied by attentive applause, to the deific closing notes of encore Sunny Sailor Boy that heralded a final swelling ovation (he played right through the interval), Bloom enraptured and enthralled the crowd. He exuded warmth, wit, sincerity and incredible skill. In truth, I cannot begin to describe the mesmeric, beautiful and engaging quality of this performance - let's just call it bloody good.
Particular highlights were instrumental Peace on Earth (see below), Radio 4 documentary-inspired Monsoon, audience sing-along Eastbound Train, rousing set-closer You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time and the indisputably logical No Matter Where You Go, There You Are - but to elevate these at the expense of all others would be most unfair. There was not a dull, duff or difficult song to be heard and if you ever have the opportunity to see him live, do not spurn it lightly (the next chance, for the geographically mobile, comes at Belgium's Labadoux Festival on Friday).
At the post-show signing I couldn't resist a cheeky shot at booking a RaW Folk session upon any future return (he is looking to make up for lost time in the UK with further gigs aplenty). He shook my hand and made my week.
Luka Bloom performing Peace on Earth from new CD/DVD release The Man Is Alive.
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2 comments:
Bugger, I'm really annoyed that I missed that. Grrrr!
I love this - thanks for the introduction.
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