Jona Lewie
I had the pleasure of seeing Chalky Seas' debut gig in this very venue a while back. Tonight is a substantially different line-up. Drummer Josh is absent so bassist Joe provides percussion on a cajon whilst friend of the band Adam fills in on bass. Ginny Dix, a solo artist in her own right, has joined on keys. Likewise, the music seems different, being gentler, folkier and less indie but more heartfelt and soulful than I recollect. There are touches of the Lumineers and, for me if not the band, Walking On Cars in the songs. Guitarist Tony provides strong lead vocals, rounded it out with some cracking harmonies from Joe and Ginny.
All in all, this is a strong set from a band that is fast discovering its own identity and sound. Last time out, I said there was a kernel of greatness. That has grown considerably. Chalky Seas may not be the finished article just yet they are getting there. Good stuff.
Coming out of the pub rock scene and the array of talent begat by Stiff Records in the 70s and early 80s, just a few months shy of his seventieth birthday, Jona Lewie is still a force to be reckoned with. In mismatched shell suit top and bottoms, Lewie is dressed like an extra from Shameless but looks disarmingly like comedian Mark Watson. Tonight it is just Lewie, his keyboard and an elderly accordion. With songs this strong, there is no need for anything else.
Kicking off with the boogie-woogie honky tonk of Begging Woman, Lewie treats us to Jackie Onassis, Heart Skips Beat, On The Road, Rearranging The Deckchairs On The Titanic and Fats Domino's Sick and Tired before a run-through of the "number 2 hit single" Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs' Seaside Shuffle.
Excerpts from Rock Around The Clock and the aforementioned Seaside Shuffle lead into an extended and enthralling You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties before the set climaxes with Stop The Cavalry. It may be these two tracks we are all here to hear but that should take nothing away from the rest of the set. Lewis is an exceptional keys man, a decent vocalist, a great songwriter and his self-deprecating between song banter is warm and amusing. The only real disappointment was the lack of punters at OPEN for what has been a great show.
