Showcase Event - 22 January
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A special night in the 'Underground' night-club at Jagz. Following a request from his record company this evenings ONSA event was combined with an album launch party for Darin Robinson. It was a truly great evening. A substantial and appreciative crowd supported all the acts. A brilliant time was had by all!
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Dan Hodgson To start proceedings we had aspiring young talent Dan. His moody atmospheric songs engaged the audience well. We had ‘On The Fence’, ‘Room On Fire’ and a Wired Jesus cover. Van Morrison meets David Gray sort of thing if you’re looking for a label!
David Ribi Last ONSA he had to wait till the end of a long evening…and then he performed brilliantly. Believe it or not this time he was even better! He has a sensitive natural quality to his performance. He combines power with sensitivity brilliantly. His influences are quite ‘classic’ but there’s certainly no shame in that when you can do it as well as he can! So ‘Faded Jeans and One Of Those Days’ and ‘Lay With Me’ brought massive applause and ‘Walking In Memphis’ brought the house down. We even had time for an unprecedented encore ‘Get Here’…especially for Mum. We like his Mum.
Philippa Berry As requested Philippa came back soon! She has a delicate quality to her voice and is hugely likeable. Very much enjoyed by the (huge) audience. ‘You Make My Day’, ‘Gold In Them Hills’ but particularly ‘Roller Coaster of Emotion’ hit the spot. The last song revealing a bit of a fiercer side…?
Stevie (One Man One Mandolin) He does exactly what it says on the tin. Stevie does ‘road songs’ with aplomb. With his trusted Mandolin slung round his neck he takes you on musical journeys around the world. You can’t help liking it! He has great image and presence. ‘So Many Miles’ and the Steve Harley song ‘Copperhead Road’ were typical of his performance. Great stuff…one little thing I reckon the impact of the songs would improve if they were just a tad briefer but I imagine others may disagree!
Me and Malc Prior to the big event I decided to inflict myself on the crowd. A big thanks to Malcy Hemming on Harmonica for giving my songs some edge and atmosphere! He wanted me to add that for some obscure reason he was ‘exceptionally happy’ tonight!
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Darin Robinson And so to the main event… Darin and his band deliver superb accomplished acoustic rock. I imagine that a full blown electric version would be as good if not even better! He has great presence and performing style. He achieves the thing that only the very best can…well constructed songs that vary from full blown ‘rockouts’ to highly sensitive ballads produced in a way that immediately engages the listener and leaves you wanting more and more. I guess I would describe his influences as ‘Transatlantic’…but in a good highly accessible kind of way! Robbie Williams for grown-ups. Here’s his setlist (with notes from his publicist!):
1. Cry (released in March)
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