Friday 8 February 2013

keaton henson


We saw Keaton Henson on Wednesday evening, playing in the Jeffrey Room of the Mitchell Library. 

Support came in the form of the lovely Jo Mango. The venue and Jo are each deserving of a review in their own right, so for brevity’s sake, they were both exquisite and a perfect match for the lilting frailness of Keaton’s songs.

Cellist Ren Ford took to the stage, providing an absorbing few minutes of music to mark the beginning of Keaton’s set. 


He came from a side door, walking towards the small stage slightly hunched and with a lowered gaze. He creates the impression of one being lead, as if the half dozen steps to the stage were a little too disorientating to complete. He appears angular under his shirt, nervously tugging his beard and pushing his hair back behind his ears. This man is somewhat of an enigma, notorious for crippling stage fright and shyness. And yep-this ‘fragile soul’ image appears in no way an exaggeration. 

He was wonderful; the songs he chose to perform, and his quiet snippets of conversation in between. He was sweet and self depricating (apologising for his reliance on sheets of lyrics) and he was also kindly complimentary of Glasgow-his first time in this fair city. 

Folk always remark at the intimate nature of his songs and the gigs he plays, and this one was no exception. He played some new tracks, a couple we hadn’t even heard before. His penultimate offering called ‘Best Today’ “still sucks” as he so charmingly put it “...sucks as in sucks emotionally.” Such an endearing admission. His distant gaze and hunched posture suggests that each song “sucks,” like each gig is its own exercise in catharsis.  

He switched between electric and acoustic, accompanied by Ren for the most part. ‘Small Hands,’ ‘Sarah Minor’ and the stunning ‘You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are’ were some of the old favourites he included, while a new one “about girls on trains” was a beautiful catchy number that sparks excitement for a recorded version. 

So it was the perfect venue, perfect company (Hanna dearest,) perfect artist and near-perfect set (the perfect setlist would require him to play every one of his songs...at least twice)

Please go listen to this wonderful man. Buy his albums, his eps, his artwork, his merchandise... and go forth and tell your friends to do likewise.

Natalie xX

[I couldn't have said it any better - here's a snap from the night. - Hanna]



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