Gig Review: King Creosote - Manchester Academy, 27/01/15

King Creosote has over forty albums, forty! That's incredible. Although I imagine when you make forty albums at least a few might be a bit rubbish. Overall though, the songs and albums I have listened to are not that, quite the opposite - they are pretty lovely.

His latest album 'From Scotland with Love' was released in 2014 and it is truly gorgeous.

I only know a few of his songs well, well enough to be able to sing along too, but unlike for other artists or for other gigs when this can make me feel like a bit of a fraud fan, this didn't, it felt relaxed, comfortable, a captive audience not shouting or dancing about, but listening and engaging with the music. He's actually quite funny too, which was nice, and he seemed just like a guy you'd meet in the pub and have a chat about your dislike for the rainy weather and drink a few double whiskeys together.

On stage at the Manchester Academy 3 (a venue a bit like a school hall) he was joined  by a violinist, keyboardist, backing vocals, guitar, drums, chello, double bass - he basically had a full (but very small) orchestra there and it brought the place to life. Most of his songs are melancholy, gentle and full of emotion - matching his emotive voice greatly and turning them into wonders with the live band.

As far as singer-songwriters go he's up there with the best and I'm not sure he realises it, and that kind of makes it all the more special.

My new favourite song is 'Kirby Grips', which unfrotuntaely I cannot provide any links to, as I can't locate in on the usual youtube/soundcloud/spotify places, it features on an EP called 'On this Island' that was released last year. It's probably worth purchasing the EP for that song alone.

So, instead here's a great one from his latest album:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFnClH0E94