REVIEW: Josh Pyke
- Posted on June 7, 2007 11:20 AM
- 0 comments
Josh Pyke at Dingwalls
Wednesday 12th June 2007
Review By Peter Coulston
They say that there is a first time for everything, and that was certainly the case on Wednesday when I visited Dingwalls for the first time to enjoy three artists who were also new to me. Dingwalls is located in Camden down near the locks, and shares a building with Jongleurs Comedy Club. The entrance is in Middle Yard and the venue can be reached on the Northern Line Tube to Camden Town. There are lots of buses but the parking is difficult. It is quite a small place with lots of standing room and a setup similar to the Borderline, in other words, functional. Drinks were reasonable and I didn’t see any food. The audience were rather noisy for my taste, especially given that the evening was pretty much acoustic. However, they applauded and cheered enthusiastically after each number, which made it OK.
The first act was Derek Meins, a manic but entertaining poet/singer/songwriter from Scotland who included poetic monologues in his set that Vincent Price would have been proud of. Subject matter included mental health (or lack of), incest and other dark subjects which we all enjoyed immensely. He was followed by Alexi Murdoch, a Londoner who is now based in Glasgow and has enjoyed considerable success in America. He uses a style of guitar playing which I used to know as clawhammer and which was associated with Appalachian folk songs and delta blues. I have no idea which influences he used to develop this style, but it is very effective. I thoroughly enjoyed the set, particularly “All My Days”.
Josh Pyke has a large following here and most of them were at Dingwalls last night. Rightly so, too; because this guy is a superb singer/songwriter, so much so that it is difficult to chose between his lyrics and his melodies. He has a very talented, multi task band which only added to what can only be described as a very professional performance. Moving between acoustic and electric songs with violin and a little banjo thrown in, every one was a gem. He is from Sydney, Australia and currently on tour here to promote his new album and single. He gave us a mixture of old and new and finished with “Middle of the Hill” a typical Josh Pyke song that you can hear on myspace. The audience, of course, were not having him leave without an encore, which he provided in the form of older songs “On Down That Road” and “Doldrums” from 2003. “Feeding The Wolves” brought the show to a close. He records for Ivy League Records, which are released over here through Island, and a good selection of his work is available on myspace as well as a list of his future gigs. I don’t know how long he is here, but I recommend that you get along to see him.
Among the audience last night was Al Lewis, the great singer/songwriter from Wales who I have reviewed at the Regal Rooms and Ginglik. He is a big fan of Josh Pyke and Alexi Murdoch. He is also playing at The Bedford in Balham tonight along with Bailey, one of the best bands in London right now. I will be there and I recommend that you come along; it’s free and will be a great show.
Want your own PRIVATE show with Josh at Glastonbury?
The Aussie lad has launched a competition that will see him pick up a crate of beer and his acoustic guitar, and head out into the Glastonbury campsite to perform an exclusive gig with one lucky competition winner and their friends. Josh is appearing on The Park stage on Saturday 23rd June. The competition is running at http://www.joshpyke.com/glastonbury/.
Makes the mud worthwhile really...
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