INVOLVING MUSIC IN REVIEW: JOHN SMITH WARMS EXETER PHOENIX WITH HIS SINGULAR TALENT

John Smith’s music has engaged me for many years so it was a thrill to see him play live on a rainy night in early November. He has charted a singular musical career based on solo guitar and vocals, occasionally collaborating with others but just as strong when performing solo. My expectations were high, and although solo acts certainly have their work cut out filling the stage with their musical presence, John brought the entire audience onside from the first strummed chord. And what better setting than Exeter Phoenix?

I’ve always loved seeing acoustic acts there — the seated shows have a certain warmth, and the Main Auditorium’s acoustics are perfect for quieter, more contemplative performances. Add to that a well-stocked bar, friendly staff and volunteers, and you’ve got one of the most welcoming venues in the South West. The feeling of John Smith’s music when played live is akin to a warm hug in a room with a log fire and a glass of whiskey.  

He walked onto the stage and launched straight into his superb song “Great Lakes” with no preamble whatsoever. The audience was immediately transported to the Canadian wilderness. The warm, sincere tones of his voice, coupled with a gentle virtuosic mastery of the acoustic guitar, grabbed our attention and put him at the top of a busy genre. John Smith is “sort of a local”, having lived in Brixham and Exeter before moving to Liverpool. On stage, he joked that he’s gradually moving back West but currently living “up North” in Somerset!  He has an evident love for our area and an enthralled audience returned that. John explained that his new album is full of reinvented versions of his earlier repertoire and reflects how songs change when you gig them for many years.  His duet on “Star Crossed Lovers” with superb support singer Georgia Mooney was exquisite.

At the halfway point, he joked about a commercial break and invited requests. Someone suggested “Axe Mountain”, and he joked that it was a “27 Verse Murder Ballad”, but proceeded to play it perfectly with strong evocations of Dartmoor.

Two of his songs featured the audience humming/chanting a simple melody, which effectively added a subtle choir to these pieces. Lovely feelings all round – he asked his soundman if he had recorded these, as apparently they were the best of the tour (good work, Exeter!). Just a guy with four acoustic guitars in various folk tunings, lovely microphone placement and some seriously tasteful guitar pedals. Subtly deployed delay, reverb and barely noticeable use of the looper gently enhanced the sound (no simplistic Ed Sheeran style riff repetition here). A foot bass pedal with a very low tone kept the beat going softly for a few of his songs. Everything was done live with no samples. At times, his reverb sounded like two guitars.  It’s easy to overuse guitar effects, and he is an expert at this side of music. “Something Terrible” had the best use of high-harmonic chordal playing that really chimed, and “Freezing Winds of Change” showed what you can do with simple chord progressions.  Many of the acoustic acts out there could learn a lot from John about restraint. John’s voice leans strongly into the John Martyn end of passionate folk singing, husky and earnest with touches of the gravelly-voiced fella from Gomez at times. Inter-song chats were brief, natural, friendly, and good-natured, explaining some details of the songs and sharing uplifting stories of his 20 years as a professional musician. He asked to play at a Nick Drake tribute gig but was refused, so he ended up playing in the lobby, where someone offered him a gig the following week with none other than John Martyn! Self-effacing but grateful to the audience – this gig highlighted a performer who has settled into a career deservingly full of plaudits from critics and music-lovers alike. This audience was of one mind and heart, totally engaged with his songs and in the palm of his hands for 90 minutes of emotionally affecting music. I came out of this gig in a great mood, having had the privilege to hear an artist at the top of their game, and judging by the applause and pleasant murmurs of the audience throughout the show, I wasn’t the only one! I highly recommend seeing him live, whether you are a guitarist/singer seeking inspiration or someone who wants to be transported to an intriguing place for 90 minutes. The ambience of these seated gigs at Exeter Phoenix is comfortable for quieter, more thoughtful acoustic gigs such as this. For newcomers to John’s music, I would suggest the songs “Great Lakes “ (either version) and “Hummingbird”.

Words: Stu Pearce (No Ordinary Fish)