Rob St.John – Live, Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, Wednesday 13th February 2008
This, my friends, was bloody gorgeous. Rob is one of the finest exponents of hush folk in Edinburgh, and this one of the few little music clusters in the city that can be said to have anything vaguely resembling a scene. Tipping In may have been short, but it was one of my highlights of the year, and for some reason before Wednesday I was yet to see Rob live.
I chose a good night because for once the entire band was available, which is not always a given, so I was able to see the music as Rob intended. It’s amazing quite how many musicians are needed to make songs that sound so sparse. There were five musicians on stage, including possibly the most delicate and discreet drummer in history, and they all contributed to bringing Rob’s slightly ghostly folk to life with a depth and loveliness that can be quite hard to achieve in the world of acoustic folk. This sort of quiet, gentle stuff runs the danger of sounding a bit thin, but no such issue here. The judicious use of the smallest of sounds is a genuine talent if you ask me, and Rob and his band appear to be blessed with plenty of it.
He’s embarking on a bit of a tour at the moment, so I’d catch him if you can. It’s not the sort of gig to get hammered at and talk through, but if you really want to immerse yourself in some of the best hush-folk around.
Rob St.John – Wooden Rose
Rob St.John – The Acid Test
Enough of this, when are you going to do something on Laura Marling?
Agreed, Ratty old chap, entirely agreed. I don’t even have the album yet, but I really do want to get my hands on it as soon as I can.
Thanks for your rather generous words about the blog, by the way. I live for flattery!
I know plenty of people that would pay good money to “do something on Laura Marling”.
(Sorry. I have a natural inclination for lowering the tone.)
back of my head in the foreground of that picture. excellent gig at henry’s rob – apologies if I drunkenly talked nonsense at you!
Bart you filthy individual. Good grief man, we have standards here. Incredibly low standards, but standards nonetheless.
Euan – there is no finer way to talk nonsense!
Hey – I’ve just read what is basically tantamount to online spousal abuse.
So don’t talk to me about standards.
I played drums for Lindsay West that night and thought Rob St John’s set was totally ace…I bought both his Cd’s after – seemed like a lovely chap…and what a great band – sword, cello, accordian…all blended so nicely.
a sword for slaying flop idols?
(thankyou all for the kind words)