Joe Pug at St Pancras Old Church

American singer-songwriter Joe Pug returned to the London stage on 12^th November with a sold out gig at St Pancras Old Church. It’s an incredibly charming venue with all the necessary tools for a successful show: small, intimate and with great acoustics. Its tiny capacity is its most appealing quality, with the audience sitting close by and given the impression of being in one’s living room, with a performance just for them.

Recognised for his ability to tell stories through his lyrics, Pug does not disappoint as he brings his songs to life and creates depth with incredible feeling in his delivery. Accompanied simply by an electric guitarist and a double bass player, his back-to-basics approach further emphasises the value of what he has to say, while his lack of airs and graces show us what he’s truly about. He opens with Burn and Shine and certainly his shut eyes and clear emotion throughout the set suggest that he means, and lives, every word.

The Americana style and range of songs which hint at country, blues and folk add further to his appeal as a performer with diversity, while the twang and richness of his voice is hauntingly brilliant, propelling the audience to an elevated level of listening pleasure. Songs broken through with lengthy harmonica solos add to this richness, with Pug creating further atmosphere and dimensions through this simple, yet beautiful, instrument. The highlights of this evening are his trademark cover of Deep Dark Wells, #Hymn 35 and latest single Bright Beginnings.

Comparisons with singers like Bob Dylan are clear to see, yet Joe Pug is a talent in his own right, with a knack for songwriting and an ability to reach out to listeners and to welcome them into his world. He closes the set with Speak Plainly Diana; with such sincerity and his captivating demeanour and talent, it is sure that viewers of this performance will have left the church feeling blessed to have witnessed him in such an intimate setting, and one so rare to come by.

Rasha Barazi

For further information about Joe Pug and future events visit here.

Watch Joe Pug’s cover of Deep Dark Wells live at St Pancras Old Church here: