Ron Sexsmith // The Waterfront - 08.09.11
"Like a fine wine or a ripe cheese he deserves to be opened up by your good self."
Oh dear, I have a confession to make, this is not only the first time that I have ever seen Ron Sexsmith appear ‘Live’, it is also only now that I have found the time to get into this very talented Canadian singer / songwriter.
And, you may well ask, why? Well let me continue the confession, after tonight’s performance of a truly captivating songbook spread over one hundred and five minutes, I feel deeply deprived and quite p****d off that I have only just taken the man off of the shelf, just like one of those very many interesting books that I have been bought in the past decade or so and keep meaning to read, but have never quite got round to yet! This is what’s been going on, or not as the case has been while the man himself has been constantly recording and touring and pouring over much blood, sweat and tears.
You see it was 2003, when I first ever heard the amazing ‘Gold In Them Hills’ and since then poor old Ron has been gathering a bit of dust on the said bookshelf, if you get my drift?
Sexsmith one of the music businesses most humblest of men, duly thanks the waterfront audience in his dry Canadian accent, “thank you very much” at the end of every song. Such a true gentleman, such a troubadour and looking very resplendent in a smoking jacket this evening if you don’t mind me saying so? Tim Buckley, Neil Finn, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello have all played a part I am sure in his shaping?
Each song from the extensive catalogue both past and present is filled with compelling tales of life’s great adventures, life in cheap hotels, dinner table conversations, strawberry blonde’s, being debt ridden and of being both happy and sad.
The new tracks from the new album ‘Long Player, Late Bloomer; get the greater applause during tonight’s set, such is the warmth for the man and if the previous ten albums are anywhere near this good, then I know what I want for Christmas 2011......Dear Santa, I have tried to be good this year, even though I have ignored Ron Sexsmith’s talents up until now, could you please arrange for my stockings to be full of his previous albums? I promise to repent my sins and start being good from now on!? (sometimes)
‘Get In Line’, sounds a little bit like the original Crossroads (1970’s ITV soap opera) theme tune, during the opening bars, but as the song progresses neither Shughie Mcphee nor Amy Turtle appear (thank goodness), it helps to set the tone for a great soundtrack this evening.
There are so many fine tunes on this very fine album ‘Believe It When’, Michael And His Dad’ and ‘Love Shines’.
Am I forgiven Mr Sexsmith? I’m a late comer and you’re a late bloomer.... The star that is Ron Sexsmith, will continue to shine bright to those in the know, so make sure that you also blow your cob webs off, soon and get in the know. He may have been a slow burner, late comer to my collection, but what’s your excuse?
The man is a truly great craftsman and has paid his dues and maybe, just maybe there really is still some gold in them there hills yet? Like a fine wine or a ripe cheese he deserves to be opened up by your good self.
“The seeing is believing, I have seen it with my own two eyes” (Believe When I See It).
Oh dear, I have a confession to make, this is not only the first time that I have ever seen Ron Sexsmith appear ‘Live’, it is also only now that I have found the time to get into this very talented Canadian singer / songwriter.
And, you may well ask, why? Well let me continue the confession, after tonight’s performance of a truly captivating songbook spread over one hundred and five minutes, I feel deeply deprived and quite p****d off that I have only just taken the man off of the shelf, just like one of those very many interesting books that I have been bought in the past decade or so and keep meaning to read, but have never quite got round to yet! This is what’s been going on, or not as the case has been while the man himself has been constantly recording and touring and pouring over much blood, sweat and tears.
You see it was 2003, when I first ever heard the amazing ‘Gold In Them Hills’ and since then poor old Ron has been gathering a bit of dust on the said bookshelf, if you get my drift?
Sexsmith one of the music businesses most humblest of men, duly thanks the waterfront audience in his dry Canadian accent, “thank you very much” at the end of every song. Such a true gentleman, such a troubadour and looking very resplendent in a smoking jacket this evening if you don’t mind me saying so? Tim Buckley, Neil Finn, Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello have all played a part I am sure in his shaping?
Each song from the extensive catalogue both past and present is filled with compelling tales of life’s great adventures, life in cheap hotels, dinner table conversations, strawberry blonde’s, being debt ridden and of being both happy and sad.
The new tracks from the new album ‘Long Player, Late Bloomer; get the greater applause during tonight’s set, such is the warmth for the man and if the previous ten albums are anywhere near this good, then I know what I want for Christmas 2011......Dear Santa, I have tried to be good this year, even though I have ignored Ron Sexsmith’s talents up until now, could you please arrange for my stockings to be full of his previous albums? I promise to repent my sins and start being good from now on!? (sometimes)
‘Get In Line’, sounds a little bit like the original Crossroads (1970’s ITV soap opera) theme tune, during the opening bars, but as the song progresses neither Shughie Mcphee nor Amy Turtle appear (thank goodness), it helps to set the tone for a great soundtrack this evening.
There are so many fine tunes on this very fine album ‘Believe It When’, Michael And His Dad’ and ‘Love Shines’.
Am I forgiven Mr Sexsmith? I’m a late comer and you’re a late bloomer.... The star that is Ron Sexsmith, will continue to shine bright to those in the know, so make sure that you also blow your cob webs off, soon and get in the know. He may have been a slow burner, late comer to my collection, but what’s your excuse?
The man is a truly great craftsman and has paid his dues and maybe, just maybe there really is still some gold in them there hills yet? Like a fine wine or a ripe cheese he deserves to be opened up by your good self.
“The seeing is believing, I have seen it with my own two eyes” (Believe When I See It).
