Jim Addison @ Warrington Irish Club Live Presents – James Walsh (Starsailor) plus support from Matthew Everson 13/02/2022 

This one is going to be something else. I can feel it – my home town of Warrington is welcoming back a force of musical genius. I’m looking forward to this – a totally stripped back, acoustic performance by the legendary Starsailor frontman himself, James Walsh.  I’m a Starsailor fan, I’m not gonna lie, but James (Walsh) has done brilliant things in his own right too. This small, intimate setting and low key gathering promise to be something very special indeed. Warrington Irish Club as a venue is great. It’s your typical, local, social club setting: laid back, friendly and very welcoming. The staff tonight have been brilliant. We’re in the function room which has a small, traditional stage area; all tables and chairs have been cleared away to make a large standing area – perfect for an event such as this. Not surprisingly, it has fully sold out and maybe 200 people are here so we have a real buzzing pre-gig feel going on. It’s great! People are clearly excited, and rightly so. Within the crowd are fellow band members of Starsailor milling about – obviously with half of the band being from Warrington this whole event has a real local feel to it, but the feeling of something huge also.

Matthew Everson_Credit: Lee Harman

Support Act – Matthew Everson 

Matthew Everson – vocals/acoustic guitar 

Jon Lord – backing vocals/electric guitar/acoustic guitar

The support act tonight comes in the form of Matthew Everson. This will be my first time seeing him perform but I’ve been told very good things, which it’s fair to say he fully lived up to. Initially performing alone with his acoustic guitar…2 songs in, he’s joined on stage by Jon Lord, first on electric guitar, then acoustic. 

This is one acoustic set not to be missed – the perfect start to this evening, very enjoyable, all original material, well rehearsed and very well done. A predominantly folk/pop, almost Ed Sheeran feel, but with an indie guitar sound at its heart. Matthew has a very strong and characterful voice and great control. Songs range from feeling huge and anthemic in style to being gentler, more lilting and personal sounding. With a great reaction from the crowd, this is a fluid and well performed set. Harmonies between Matthew and Jon are bloody great, they work well together as a combination of vocals. Enthusiastic guitar playing, with great, intricate riffs and poetic style lyrics, it’s a very good sound and works so well acoustically. Matthew’s voice alternates from low, rich tones, often with a huskiness or gravel, to some much higher pitches. Perfectly suited to this venue and this style of event, we have a real feeling of being involved; as a crowd, we feel a part of it, fully submerged in both the performance and the creativity. This is the real beauty of these stripped back, intimate events. 

A great set all round. It fit the brief perfectly, has really set the tone for the rest of the evening and truly entertained us. Thank you to both Matthew and Jon – I’m impressed and hope to see you again!

SetList:

Back in the Day, One Day at a time, Just Don’t Sound the Same, Wash away,  All She Wrote, Speak to Make Sound.

James Walsh_Credit: Lee Harman

James Walsh – Headliner

Quietly and in a very unassuming way James Walsh arrives before us on stage, plugging in his guitar and starting his set immediately – the welcome he receives from the crowd is epic.  This is to be a no nonsense set, filled to brimming with excellent content. Opening with ‘Good Souls’, it already feels like one hell of a set. It is spine tingling. I can say, hand on heart,  there is no difference in his voice, laid bare before us tonight with just an acoustic guitar for accompaniment. It sounds exactly like the tracks we’re used to listening to him singing on! Any Starsailor fans will undoubtedly know that this January saw the release of an expanded and extended edition of the now iconic and critically acclaimed “Love is Here” album. This, the debut album by Starsailor, last year celebrated its 20th anniversary. Hailed as something different, this album for me personally had a huge and lasting impact and is still one of my favourite albums of all time. To have songs from it performed acoustically, just feet away from me, is genuinely quite something. Being part of the (then) ‘new acoustic movement, it was always going to translate perfectly for this type of event. It’s an impressive back catalogue, but equally impressive is James (Walsh)’s solo career which has seen numerous collaborations, among them the likes of Suzanne Vega, Nikolaj Torp Larsen and Andreas Olson. 

The crowd have by now eagerly come forward, it’s feeling more up close and personal. There’s a somewhat familiar, fuzzy and nostalgic feeling – it’s these well known and loved songs being hungrily absorbed by this loyal crowd. Of course, the guitar is instantly recognisable and sounds brilliant, but it’s the vocal… that unmistakable, powerful, unwavering sadness. It’s far reaching, you feel it reaching into the depths of your soul… It’s melancholy… it’s raw heartbreak, with an openness…It’s striking.  Then between songs, it’s light and relaxed, smiles, with thanks and banter with the audience. 

James Walsh_Credit:Lee Harman

The rendition of ‘Poor Misguided Fool’ is utterly haunting, perfectly executed and creates a real atmosphere. As a crowd we’re spellbound, hanging onto every word. It’s completely bewitching. These feelings multiply as each song is performed… every one stunning and beautifully sung and brilliantly played… Soaring vocals, the wailing crescendo – you can feel the suffering, see the tenderness and believe the angst. The vocal range is beyond impressive, but we knew this.  It’s just on another level live!  All those famous anthems, they don’t disappoint.  ‘Alcoholic’ is probably one of the most iconic and recognisable (although there are many) – it’s an aching rendition, it’s like witnessing the first time a song was sung in its rawest and most personal form. Delivered with passion and such fragility at times, this is genuine talent.

Sincere and delicate is his newest song ‘Stitch in time’ which James explains is a lullaby of sorts, inspired by the recent birth of his daughter and written for her. It’s a joy to listen to, differing hugely in style from the more sorrowful material. Finishing tonight’s set with an encore and coming back out on stage to perform ‘Silence is Easy’, it’s one rousing sing-along of a finale, and the applause, screams and clapping after it are deafening!  

A very full setlist, performed from the heart and in such a friendly and genuine manner.  Coming out afterwards, James spends time chatting to fans and having pictures taken – what a great guy! Tonight has been out of this world,  I commend you, James Walsh…performing in a small social club for a small crowd, which you truly turned into something huge, memorable and very special for each and every one of us. A real legend, true gent, and musical talent  I for one am in total awe of your voice. Thank you for a true stand out performance and one that none of us will ever forget!

Setlist: Good Souls, Poor Misguided Fool, How can it be Wrong?, Shadow Heart,  Fever, Wonderful Life,   Lullaby,  Way to fall,  Stitch in time, Landslide-cover, Weightless, Alcoholic, Germaine, Tell me it’s not over, Four to the floor, In my Life-cover, Science is Easy.

Words: Janet Harding  Images: Lee Harman

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