The Cobden Club Review 15th August 2006

( One Old Soul, Time, Northern Lights and God or No God, Lady Lullaby, White Noise)

A very special gig.
First of all its wonderful to see David so happy and relaxed.

The Cobden is a private Club in Nottinghill, and this was one of their regular music nights. It was good to see such a responsive, interested and young audience who listened attentively to all 4 very diverse acts. So a big thanks for a well planned evening. For the first half each artist performed 3 songs and again in the second half. The room was fairly packed with around fifty to hundred. A top gig.

The venue had high ceilings with decorated mirrors, a Bar lining one wall and a raised stage on the opposite wall. It was very dark, so dark we had to use the candles to read by – but this also meant people focused on the artists performing.

Haley Smith performed with acoustic guitar, a lovely voice and a good feel to her set, but something seemed lacking from her songs. Next was Bev on keys in a discordant jazz style accompanied by cello, drums and accordion. Professionally trained Bev also played violin and used clapping for diverse rhythms. She had a honey-toned voice, and did an enjoyable set.

David and John were on next and performed One Old Soul, Time and Northern lights. David’s vocals are so magical right now.
(Oddly the way the lights were John was in the spotlight and David rather in the dark to the side. Perhaps if the keyboards had been moved into the centre a bit more?)

After David and John were a band with a guy on electric and a drummer with a rather morbid name – the Memorial Fund - who handed out red carnations with their myspace address tied to them. Occasionally the singer liked to belt it out, but their set didn’t connect to me.

For the second set we had the band first, followed by Halley, then Bev and David lastly. It was lovely to see David play a venue like this and be well received. In the second half they started with God or No God, then Lady Lullaby and lastly White Noise. LL flows with a lovely lucid quality to it, God or No God is so emotional and WN has feel good vibes.

A special mention for Lady Lullaby - David really connected with the audience. Starting with a soothing verse, it drifted and crooned perfectly, the best I‘ve heard David do so far. This song has had a great response to it. One young guy I spoke with, I asked him what he thought of David, and he said he enjoyed his set, and he particularly liked the second song which was LL.

With each new gig David lifts the Bar each time.