The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicLive music

James Walsh at Bush Hall

James Walsh at Bush Hall | Live review
16 April 2014
Johanna Eliasson
Avatar
Johanna Eliasson
16 April 2014

James Walsh is celebrating the release of his first solo album since the hiatus of Starsailor with a UK tour. Playing at Bush Hall on Tuesday night, he opened with new material from his debut Turning Point. Immediately Better Part of Me filled up the space, creating a winning atmosphere that lasted all night.

Walsh’s new songs have taken a step into a new direction: they’re slightly less poppy and with a slower pace, but fans won’t find the melodic tunes too far from Starsailor’s sound. The album was released just a couple of weeks ago, and Walsh himself was amazed that even after such a short time the crowd knew the lyrics better than him.

Steady drum rhythms, melodic base lines and some country vibes blended with Brit pop defined the set. The vibe was friendly, but the music too yielding, sometimes becoming a bit too easy to take in. One almost wished for a mistake from those onstage – something to give it an edge.

As Walsh drew closer to the end of his set the crowd really got going, excitedly singing along to Time is Nigh. When he burst out with Starsailor song Four on the Floor it was all too clear that most of the people at the show were really fans wanting more Starsailor material.

The unique Bush Hall setting was well harnessed by Walsh and his band: what they delivered was warm, giving the crowd all the songs they wanted to hear. The lack of edge left us wanting more though, and in a way one wondered if, had Walsh left out the Starsailor stuff, he might have made the performance completely his own.

Johanna Eliasson
Photos: Rosie Yang

For further information and future events visit James Walsh’s website here.

Watch an acoustic performance of Turning Point here:

Related Itemsconcertjames walshlive musicreview

More in Live music

Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online

★★★★★
Mark Worgan
Read More

Bat for Lashes Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Barker-Turner Overdrive: An Evening of Duets at the Tunbridge Wells Forum Online

★★★★★
Catherine Sedgwick
Read More

Ben Howard: Global Transmission from Goonhilly Earth Station live stream

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

The Sherlocks at Sheffield City Hall Online

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

The Snuts at Stirling Castle Online

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More

Valley Maker – When the Day Leaves Livestream

★★★★★
Jasper Watkins
Read More

London Contemporary Orchestra at Southbank Centre

★★★★★
Sylvia Unerman
Read More

Giles Terera: Black Matter at Crazy Coqs

★★★★★
Bev Lung
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • London’s best pizzas for takeaway and delivery
    Food & Drinks
  • The Year Earth Changed
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Steelers: The World’s First Gay and Inclusive Rugby Club
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Distance Remaining – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • A Splinter of Ice at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • For the Sake of Vicious
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Cruise – Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Birdy at Wilton’s Music Hall Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Mare of Easttown
    ★★★★★
    sky
  • Me You Madness
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • SYML – Dim | EP review
    ★★★★★
    Album review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Joan as Policewoman at Village Underground | Live review
Relative Values at the Harold Pinter Theatre | Theatre review