Ethan Jones @ Komedia 17th Sept 2013

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.

Ethan Johns presented as a genuinely charming guy, funny at times and heart-warming at others, like when he talked proudly about his father. A truly skilled songwriter, his set was poetic and intelligent, captivating and thought provoking