Gigs

James Weaved His Charisma Charm

James Blunt (with special guest Holly Martin)

Plenary Hall, Melbourne

Saturday, May 21, 2011.

 

Written by Jacqui James

JAMES BLUNT HAS a bit of a reputation of being a nancy boy who only sings lovesongs which make the ladies swoon over the world! Well let me tell you…

Unlike most artists to get onto the stage, James came running from the entrance doors, right through the crowd and leapt into business with his aqua guitar. He was dressed in normal jeans with a t-shirt, nothing flash.

His charisma and cheekiness were apparent from the word go! He urged people to stand up, but jokingly said “I’m going to play three hours of slow songs so you can sit down then!” James wanted people to undress because afterall it was a Saturday night in Melbourne! It took These Are The Words for everyone to stand up but when they did, the gig went to another level.

Even though his recent album Some Kind Of Trouble has a more upbeat and blissful sound to it like James’ worldwide hit Stay The Night, when James revisited his major ballad Goodbye My Lover, you could have heard a pin dropped until the last chorus when he invited the crowd to sing with him. This was my personal favourite of the night.

Unfortunately when everyone flocked to the stage and formed a dance pit, I caught very, very brief glimpses of James (note to security guards: if you ever pass someone in a wheelchair who obviously can’t see a thing, maybe help them and their carer to the front of the crowd…just a suggestion!) but my sister said he crowd surfed during I’ll Be Your Man. But before everyone flocked to the stage I noticed how James interacted with his bandmembers so well.

The second last song was Stay The Night and the mosh pit had a ball singing along and in the last song 1973 James stood on top of his piano and urged the crowd to clap along to boost the fun atmosphere even more.

Here’s the set list from last night:

So Far Gone

Dangerous

Billy

Wisemen

Carry You Home

These Are The Words

I’ll Take Everything

Out Of My Mind

Goodbye lover

High

Same mistake

If Time All I Have

Turn Me On

Superstar

You’re Beautiful

So Long

Jimmy

I’ll Be Your Man

Into The Dark

Stay The Night

1973


Jacqui James

I'm an Australian author and music journalist from Melbourne. I've had articles and poetry published in several magazines and newspapers since finishing my Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing in 2001. In 2010 Gigs 'n Interviews was born. I launched it with my first big named interview and that was Vanessa Amorosi and then in 2012 I felt unbelievably privileged to interview Ronan Keating. I'm extremely proud of what Gigs 'n Interviews has become as it's seen as a platform for emerging artists and entertainers to be heard.

Looking forward to writing more children's books, I hope to change the wrong perception of children and adults with disabilities as I was born with Severe Cerebral Palsy (like Christy Brown who wrote My Left Foot). People can view my books at www.jacquijames.net

If you would like to know more about myself, please visit http://www.jacquirogers.com.au/

Thanks for dropping by at Gigs 'n Interviews

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