The Portobello Acoustic Sessions returned on Thursday after a one week hiatus, bringing with it another assembly of light-hearted debauchery and wanton music-making. After the carnal excesses of Westfest, The Met's micro-festival, over Easter weekend, it would have been easy to let standards slip and just say "meh" to the whole business. It, I am happy to say, didn't.
Johnson Jay, the Ozzie guitar supremo and finalist in the Australian version of Pop Idol, came back to PAS with plectrum in his pocket and a twinkle in his eye, and lulled the crowd into his... Wait. Sorry, I... I think I should point out that the previous sentence in no way relates to Johnson Jay's actual physicality. I mean, well, it's not something, you know, that I would usually look for, it's just, well, an expression, I suppose. I don't know if you realise, but people's eyes don't actually twinkle. I meant nothing by it.
I now have a distinct mental image of people sitting at their computers, looking up and saying, "I could swear that something just, like, went straight over my head."
So, anyway, Johnson Jay, blah blah blah, lulled the crowd into his... I've forgotten what I was going to say. Well, look, the best thing to do is just to go and see him, or go onto his MySpace or something, because JJ's virtuosic guitar and tongue-in-cheek lyrics make for attention-grabbing performances and an all-round good listen, with a bit of laughter chucked in for good measure. There. Happy now?
Moving on...
Dom Scheggia is starting to become a bit of a regular at PAS, although this time it was a bit last-minute. Another artist dropped out, and Dom was there, ready and raring to go with his laid-back style and absolute nervouslessness... less. Dom doesn't need Dutch courage, the Dutch need Dom. The man is fearless onstage. He played a song that he'd written
that same day, for crying out loud. And good it was, too.
Angel Anderson came along for her first time at PAS, although her backing band had been before as Are :N: El, a soulful and energetic duo consisting of a beautiful voice (Rozie Gyems, who can light up the room effortlessly) and a superb guitarist (Leon Cave, who seems to be ridiculously multi-talented). Angel added her wonderfully dynamic and charismatic style - not to mention her incredible vocals - into the mix to make a sound that could have come from heav...
No. No, no. I'm not doing that. It's far too easy. Let's just say that it was divin... Damn.
Francis Rodino was another newcomer at PAS, and he brought along with him two members of his usual electrified - if you get my meaning - six-person setup. Francis' gruff and slightly-accented vocals anchored the energetic riffs to a powerful, folk-inspired stadium-rock-without-the-stadia base with ease. The highlight of their time on stage would have to be the inspirational and traditional-Irish tinged drinking song, which I wish, oh I wish, I could remember the words to. Just make sure it doesn't inspire you too much, if you catch my drift.
The
Portobello Acoustic Sessions is held every Thursday night from 7:30 at The Metropolitan bar, Westbourne Park.
PS. Dom Scheggia is performing at The Platform on Wednesday the 22nd of April at The Met. More on that later.
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![Francis Houseman [New Listener]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/file.png)
Francis Houseman [New Listener]
| Listeners 
The PAS Diaries: Johnson Jay, Dom Scheggia, Angel Anderson and Francis Rodino
