JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE/AWKWARD SILENCES/ECHOLOCATION
IAC 8th March 2025
Back at the INTERNATIONAL ARTS CENTRE last night to see three fine bands...
First up were #echolocation, a local band I have seen a number of times, and they remain an enigma to me... listening to them they are a fine band, musically excellent, and very much in their favour they are doing something different, creative, away from the standard rock fare. They are based around an intense vibrant lead guitar and synth, with Peter's poetry at the front supported admirably by fine drum and bass. The sound is driving and hypnotic but this vibe is not really to my taste so it is hard to be properly objective... suffice to say as always they went down really well with the audience
Next up were a band totally new to me, Awkward Silences. Led by singer Paul Hawkins (who is also Head of Volunteering and Skills Development at the charity Attitude is Everything) and ably supported by guitar, bass and synth. Last night their drummer was unable to appear so they used a drum track... if that phased them in any way it didnt show...
They are very much about the quirky off-beat lyrics which often surprise and always delight... i would have paid double to see the whole room join in with the dance Paul demonstrated in the Black Lace-y number ("I think "Innocent Fun").
Very quirky, very individual and massively enjoyable set
Finally... the man of the hour... the welcome return to Leicester of Jeffrey Lewis and the Voltage... actually a name I knew by reputation but didn't know the music... I have missed out!!
Jeffrey started out solo, playing a couple of acoustic pieces, the second of with was about the generational perils of smoking and smart phones, and is one of the most creative and wonderful songs I have heard in a long time...
Through the show members of the Voltage came on stage in one's, two's or three's for some songs while Jeffrey remained solo for others... this kept everything fresh and gave a lovely variety to the overall show.
Jeffreys songs are quirky, offbeat and superb (a bit Jonathon Richman-like at times... and that is a real compliment!!) and packed with so many words.... it is a feat to have them all committed so assuredly and to deliver them with such pace and quality... Jeffrey is a superb performer with bags of personality and charisma....
The songs were all original, though at the end he did do a couple of covers, but uniquely movie covers rather than song covers...
the first being "Star Wars", the other being his autobiography through the medium of fashion... as he sang the stories he showed an illustration from his cloth book of paintings and drawings illustrating the lyrics.
A superb wordsmith and performer assisted as required by three talented musicians who added to the pieces they were involved in...
Really great performance... absolutely loved it....
Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues
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