Music / live review
Review: Avi Buffalo, Grain Barge
It started with a song, ended with a dramatic crescendo and transported the spellbound audience on a journey in between.
A slight figure standing with his guitar on the stage of the Grain Barge, Avi Buffalo soon filled the room on Wednesday night with his unique rousing voice, light American humour and impressive range.
Inventive, sometimes melancholy and with a youthfully light twist on life in general, the LA-based artist is back touring as a one-man band and while it was not a seamless performance, there were certainly no complaints from the crowd, which was entranced by the affable, talented guitarist.
is needed now More than ever
“It feels like every time I’ve played here it’s been on a boat or an above water submarine or something,” says the singer, greeting the audience gathered in the cosy hold of the Grain Barge.
Avi Buffalo’s captivating and powerful voice filled the small venue
His set perfectly portrays Avi’s diverse range, as catchy pop tunes follow whimsical melodies, and -before you can catch a breath – he’s rocking out on stage – powerful voice booming through the mic.
Tuning up to play a brand new song live for the first song, he admits it’s so fresh that it doesn’t even have a name yet and, with a grin, agrees to let members of the audience put forward suggestions after hearing it.
“The soldier ant gets lost on the way to the nest in the desert,” shouts out one woman when the last note has rung out. To which the singer promptly grabs a piece of paper and pen and starts to write it down.
“That’s so good – I just have to get that down,” he says – checking again what she said and scrawling on the paper held mid-air.
Frequently swapping between electric and electro-acoustic guitars, Avi’s set is punctuated with long pauses to tune his instruments – not that this bothers anyone, as he keeps up a light banter throughout – gamely covering everything from the great British weather to World of Warcraft.
He finishes the set with a beautiful Fairport Convention cover, followed by an old favourite, with a lengthy guitar rift bringing the show to a storming close, to meet with rapturous applause.
While it was clear that Avi Buffalo’s return to Bristol was the main event for most people, local boy Ead Wood held his own as the support act.
Ead Wood held his own with a set of melodic, and often poignant songs
A singer songwriter that brings his own unique sound to the stage, Ead writes with refreshing insight and humour about everyday life and played a mixed set of catchy, upbeat guitar solos, interspersed with slower, whimsical tracks.
He is playing at Dot to Dot Festival this Saturday for anyone keen to hear more.
The evening was less about slick, polished performances, and more about what small grassroots venues do best – connecting artists to audiences, while leaving a bit of room for some experimental winging-it. It made for a memorable night.
Review: Peace, SWX
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