Mr. Johnny Tarr was like a long lost son to the small room in which PAS is held. Despite playing on a few bank holidays downstairs at The Met, Tarrbaby hadn't played specifically for us in a while, so it was with eager anticipation that we sat, watched and waited for him to begin. Joining Tarrbaby was the amazing Jason "Superboy" Reeve, ready, as always, with the kind of groove-ridden beats that you can't help but beatbox to yourself on the way home. Despite Tarrbaby's stripped down version of the usual setup, there was still a huge array of instruments and pedals, every one, as ever, played or used with the same rhythmic charm and rampant professionalism.
The Canterbury-based Lucy Kitt graced the PAS stage for the first time and taught us a thing or two about books, covers and so forth re: not judging one by the other. We expected the young rapscallion Lucy, sporting lip and nose piercings and a flowery dress-like contraption (contraption may be the wrong word here, but, hell, I know nothing of clothes), to do that kind of standard singer-songwriter stuff that sounds sort of okay, but a little shallow. Lucy was nothing of the sort. From the first time her fingers touched the strings to the final glittering chord, Lucy's music was superb. A kind of warm glow radiates from Lucy as she plays the practised and mature notes, as if the whisky-warmed spirits of John Mayall and Howlin' Wolf, and any blues great you care to name, were somehow being channeled into a 22-year old woman. Comparisons with Sheryl Crow may not be totally unjustified, though Lucy is far less poppy, and will undoubtedly be loved by blues fans.
Catherine Tran also made her debut at PAS, strolling onto the stage with a spring in her step and a guitarist in her wake. The Vietnamese-descended songstress, purveyor of light but rich melodies with a touch of the exotic, sings with one of those soft but deceptively strong voices while plucking the guitar strings with a graceful finesse. Neil Grimes, playing the supporting guitar and keyboard, added haunting effects with a seasoned air, teasing just the right notes out of his instruments with the same casualness as a well-practised magician performing his oldest trick.
Jesse James rocked all the way across the pond to play us his melancholic set. The tanned Californian with swept-back hair certainly made an impression on us. "A slice of slow-lane Americana" just about sums it up.
Dave Knight
The
Portobello Acoustic Sessions is held every Thursday night from 7:30 at The Metropolitan bar, Westbourne Park.
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The PAS Diaries: Tarrbaby, Lucy Kitt, Catherine Tran and Jesse James
The PAS Diaries: Lee MacDougall, Andy Mitchell and Murray James