It’s the first of the month and I’m back at the Royal Albert Hall, this time for Ben Howard, who kicked off a European tour back in May. At this point, the incredible Royal Albert Hall needs no introduction. Ben’s debut album Every Kingdom, released in 2011, was an incredible display of workmanship and one that I would consider one of the finest albums of the last decade. It was succeeded by I Forget Where We Were in 2014, a record which got better and better every time I put it on. However, the two albums that followed strayed far from the Mercury Prize nominee’s original songwriting brilliance.
Some people are audibly confused and at one point I hear “play something we know!”. Others around me have become so distracted that they started reaching for their phones. Can’t blame them. He takes off his jacket and someone shouts “go on Ben!” in an attempt to inject some energy into tonight’s performance, but it’s greeted with a witty remark on how “it’s always condescending when someone uses your first name.”
I have no problem with artists performing debuts tracks live, or even whole unreleased records front to back. It can be a thrilling and unique journey between old and new songs, but when it lacks charisma and basic stage persona, it makes it a hard pill to swallow. Throw in a bit of indifference towards the crowd and sprinkle it with arrogance, things go from bad to worse quickly. I feel bad for those poor souls standing tonight, at least I have a seat.
First roar of applause of the evening goes to I Forget Where We Were as it jolts the audience into life. Black Flies is the perfect example of Ben’s creative magic and fans get their fix of the good stuff, with In Dreams in tow. I fear it’s too little too late. Ben performs Small Things, one of my favourites and a clever piece of songwriting, before exiting the stage.
Promise, the closing track from Every Kingdom, is saved for the finale. The crowd that had been previously unsettled, is now at peace. With minimal support from the band, Ben delivers a wonderfully melodic song on the struggles of love and bleakness of winter.
And with that, the lights come on and I down what’s left of my lukewarm cider before finding the nearest exit. Tonight’s performance left the audience wanting more, but I wouldn’t be so certain they would get it next time either. Kudos to Allan Wilson for the impressive visual projections though, they certainly stole the show tonight.
POsted from:https://rockshotmagazine.com/ben-howard-misses-the-mark-at-the-royal-albert-hall/