On a night when the sky was drizzling and a chill had
castaway all memories of summer walking into the Komedia was like stepping into
a warm hug. Candles twinkled as Ethan Johns, a man who has worked with some of
the biggest names in music, humbly stepped onto the stage, unaware of the awe that
surrounded him.
His set started off with a few acoustic songs, his soft vocals
were reminiscent of Van Morrison and Neil Young. Occasionally he swapped to an
electric guitar and drum machine and at one point even a handheld pump organ. His
songs were philosophical and spiritual with an American Blues and Gospel influence
running throughout them, at times bleak but they still depicted ineffable
wonder at the beauty of life. His sound was quite rough and raw, not the
slickness you might expect from a world-renowned producer but it just
highlighted his unashamed raconteur nature.
