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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
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Music
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: The platinum-selling singer-songwriter and his band play tracks from his album All The Lost Souls.
Phone: 0870432 5527
Website: www.koko.uk.com
Email: boxoffice@koko.uk.com
Trains: Tube: Mornington Crescent 
Extra info: Pub
Straightforward: James Blunt at Koko
James Blunt's public school education and Army background ensured he was never going to starve for his art, but they should hardly warrant his songwriting gifts being dismissed. Four million sales of the 33-year-old's 2004 debut Back To Bedlam suggest a public wiser than the critical herd. Yet still the doubts persist.
And when stardom tapped him on the shoulder, Blunt behaved like a pop star from central casting, further encouraging those who questioned his artistic merit. A former officer but not necessarily a gentleman, the diminutive Don Juan squired such high profile, high maintenance denizens of virtue as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson among many others. Amy Winehouse really ought to be nervous...
"If anyone asks you about my sex life," he chuckled during last night's unveiling of much of All The Lost Souls, the forthcoming second album Blunt somehow managed to find time to record, "just say nothing."
For all his priapic cavortings off-stage, Blunt is a reassuringly straightforward performer on it, despite the contradiction of bravely dispensing You're Beautiful as early as the third song, but being sufficiently craven to remain silent as the crowd bellowed the obscenity in the second verse. If our punishment is to hear You're Beautiful in its bowdlerised version at every wedding we attend, pity James Blunt who, for the rest of his life, must play the thing at his every concert.
The impossible-to-dislike Wisemen - still his most satisfying song - thundered along merrily; Goodbye My Lover, performed solo at a piano foolishly hidden away on the edge of the stage, was equally gorgeous and noble and Out Of My Mind (curiously, Blunt's canon contains more references to drugs than the British Medical Journal) packed a feisty punch.
Blunt's future looks brightish. His background will be less of an issue second time around and his naff reputation was always undeserved. All The Lost Souls features nothing as finely crafted as Wisemen, or as bankable as You're Beautiful, but Blunt is evolving from a Cat Stevens/James Taylor facsimile into a singer-songwriter of genuine worth, despite his occasional tendency to slip into lazy cliché.
1973 had an elegiac charm, Carry You Home whipped up such an impressive tempest it almost obscured its resemblance to Soft Cell's Say Hello Wave Goodbye and by the end Blunt had found his way into the mostly female crowd, presumably armed with his telephone number...
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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Have to disagree with Paul - Just Jack was awesome! Blunt was good too.
- Claire, Midlands
This was the fourth time we have seen James and his stage performance is certainly improving. There is now, thank goodness, very little evidence of the previous attempts to emulate the physical movements of guitarists - so embarrassing and no need for it, let the music work instead! This was a great venue, large enough to have great atmosphere and small enough to feel honoured to be there. The mix of old and loved songs and new worked really well and clearly 1973 lyrics were known to most of us there. The band was tight and developed some extra funky elements to Wiseman..excellent stuff!
I have never experienced a worse support than the DJ. Words almost fail about how bad it was. The genre was so hard to place but maybe tedious describes it best. The audience chatted throughout and did their best to ignore it. It was one of the longest hours of my life. I don't understand who made such a poor decision as the type of music was at total odds to that enjoyed by James Blunt fans.
- Joy Moloney, Fareham, Hants
We made the long journey to London and I am very glad we did. James Blunt is great in such a small venue. The mix of old/new songs went down well and I am looking forward to the album release.
It is a shame that a few of the people who managed to get tickets to the gig (not an easy feat) spent the time talking near the bar to the annoyance of others.
A wedding anniversary evening made very memorable.
- Jo Frost, Devon, UK
I was fortunate enough to get tickets for this gig. It is refreshing to see that a performer as popular as James Blunt can curb his ego to limit ticket sales to 900. It felt like a very intimate gig.
Thankfully, he played some of the older songs but some of the new tracks from the upcoming album rang with the true Blunt sound and are destined to be big.
One Of The Brightest Stars is quite on a par with the big hits from the first album. Shine On is spectacular live and reeks passion, one of James Blunt's better qualities unlike many of his peers.
1973 was very well recieved and ended with Mr Blunt playing a note wrong which prompted a smile and chuckle with the band. To remedy this he pushed away the mike, slammed the piano lid to a crash of key and climbed atop the piano and got the crowd clapping. Fantastic!
A fantastic gig, promising a great album, whether it is a stunning as his first offering or as well received remains to be seen. Love him or hate him this boy can write songs and can sing well with emotion. Maybe some record producers out there should take note. Less plastic more heart!
If there was a down point to the gig it was the 'support' by Just Jack. He did an hour of playing DJ before James. Two points, first who puts a DJ on before James Blunt!, and secondly, between you and me, Just Jack cannot DJ, my cat could have done better. Very poor and disappointing. Good job James Blunt made us all forget about it.
- Paul Bicknell, Crewe, Cheshire
