John Grant

Tuesday 22nd March

"Sea of Bees" was the support for the evening. A singer, songwriter from California with her own unique style. She appeared to be quite over awed by the enormity of the venue, The Sage in Gateshead. She explained between songs where she had gained the inspiration to write them. I have to admit that this kind of music was not really to my taste, and other members of the audience also had the same opinion as several of them returned to the bar after the first song.

It was very apparent that the audience was eager for the main attraction to take the stage and as the lights went down and John Grant walked on, the place erupted. He was accompanied by a grand piano, analogue synths and his new pianist Chris. He opened the show with a new track "You don't have to", which is not on his critically acclaimed album, "Queen of Denmark". After a self confessed life of drug and alcohol abuse, John used the experiences to write the tracks for this, his first solo album, with the help of Texan, indie folk rockers, Midlake.

His between song banter explained how each song had come about. The track Marz, for example, is all about a sweet shop he used to go to as a child and most of the lyrics are taken from the shop's menu, to great effect. He went on to play other tracks from the album such as Chicken Bones, Sigourney Weaver and Outer Space, all of which relate to his life and his struggle of growing up gay in a strict, religous family in smalltown America

The crowd were hanging on every word and cheered enthusiastically, as John's velvety voice resounded around the room, with its perfect acoustics. He finished off the set with a couple of songs from his previous band The Czars; First was Drug and the second, Little Pink House, which was requested by a few members of the audience, admitting he hadn't played that particular track live in a number of years, he performed it admirably. Finally we were treat to the title track of the album "Queen of Denmark", and a much-deserved standing ovation ensued.

I can't wait to hear more from John and to see him tour again, and perhaps he may be able to bring Midlake with him, as he said he would like to.