Josh Rouse Live Review

London QEH 9/12/2005




There was something Summery in the air last Friday night on the London Southbank. Yes, check the date... I am writing this in December. Because amid all the pre Christmas, zero temperature hussle and bussle, sat Josh Rouse, plucking a Ukelele inside the Queen Elizabeth Hall. It was impossible not to imagine the warm Spanish white village where Josh claims to have sat and written his new material. But enough of the daydreaming...there's a review to be written!
With just a couple of acoustic and spanish guitars, and a harmonica to back him up, Josh was going to need to do something special to keep attention firmly fixed on him, rather than the bar. And although it took a few songs to warm up, by 'It Looks Like Love,' he had hit his stride. Playing a varied mix from all his albums (except, bizarrely nothing from Under Cold Blue Stars,) the audience reception seemed to grow stronger with each song.
There were literally too many highlights to mention, so perhaps its correct to say that rather than standout songs, the whole gig stood up as something special. It felt spontanious, and unpredictable. For once, the encore didn't feel like it was written into the setlist (something that usually becomes very tedious at gigs... clap until the band come back on etc.) With Josh being one of the most consistent artists around today (releasing more or less an album a year,) it is refreshing to see someone who defies the music industry record-tour-record cycle. He didn't necessarily need to do this show. But this is what sets Josh Rouse above the rest. A man who loves his trade.