{"id":18228,"date":"2026-02-03T01:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T00:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roglacup.com\/klaus62\/?p=18228"},"modified":"2026-02-01T19:00:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T18:00:49","slug":"morning-song-ben-howard-promise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roglacup.com\/klaus62\/2026\/02\/03\/morning-song-ben-howard-promise\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning song #Ben Howard #Promise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s the first of the month and I\u2019m back at the\u00a0Royal Albert Hall<\/strong>, this time for\u00a0Ben Howard<\/strong>, who kicked off a European tour back in May. At this point, the incredible Royal Albert Hall needs no introduction.\u00a0Ben\u2019s<\/strong>\u00a0debut album\u00a0Every Kingdom,\u00a0<\/strong>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\u00a0I Forget Where We Were\u00a0<\/strong>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\u2019s\u00a0original songwriting brilliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people are audibly confused and at one point I hear \u201cplay something we know!\u201d. Others around me have become so distracted that they started reaching for their phones. Can\u2019t blame them. He takes off his jacket and someone shouts \u201cgo on Ben!\u201d in an attempt to inject some energy into tonight\u2019s performance, but it\u2019s greeted with a witty remark on how \u201cit\u2019s always condescending when someone uses your first name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First roar of applause of the evening goes to I<\/strong> Forget Where We Were<\/strong> as it jolts the audience into life. Black Flies<\/strong> is the perfect example of Ben\u2019s <\/strong>creative magic and fans get their fix of the good stuff, with In Dreams <\/strong>in tow. I fear it\u2019s too little too late. Ben <\/strong>performs Small Things<\/strong>, one of my favourites and a clever piece of songwriting, before exiting the stage. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promise, <\/strong>the closing track from Every Kingdom<\/strong>, is saved for the finale. The crowd that had been previously unsettled, is now at peace. With minimal support from the band, Ben <\/strong>delivers a wonderfully melodic song on the struggles of love and bleakness of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with that, the lights come on and I down what\u2019s left of my lukewarm cider before finding the nearest exit. Tonight\u2019s performance left the audience wanting more, but I wouldn\u2019t be so certain they would get it next time either. Kudos to Allan Wilson <\/strong>for the impressive visual projections though, they certainly stole the show tonight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POsted from:https:\/\/rockshotmagazine.com\/ben-howard-misses-the-mark-at-the-royal-albert-hall\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n