Music / Reviews
Review: George Ezra, Colston Hall
One of Bristol’s biggest venues was packed to the rafters with a massive cross section of society, some barely at big school and others claiming a pension; all intrigued to see the man behind that voice.
The warm up band, Raleigh Ritchie, were a Bristol-based five piece soul/R&B band with high/nervous energy. Like the long lost brother of Rizzle Kicks, charasmatic lead singer Jacob Anderson tried to get the crowd chanting, singing, jumping and clapping along to their five song set. The radio friendly Greatest was on the money. They ended with Bloodsport after singing with passion and angst.
George came onto the stage, a young man dressed in black (a nod to Johnny Cash, an obvious comparison), and opened with Cassy O. Supported by a bearded beatnik three-piece band, Ezra led them through almost every track off his number one album Wanted on Voyage.
is needed now More than ever
That baritone voice that didn’t seem to quite fit the man/boy that was seemingly stuck to the stage floor by the blinding spotlight. As the crowd gently swayed and toe tapped along to the bluesy based rhythm guitar, a no-nonsense solo ensued, which included a cover of Bob Dylan’s North Country Fair and his own less well penned Over the Creek.
The beards returned to replay the Radio One Live Lounge cover of Macy Gray’s I Try, which was, well, very lounge. Although George has soul beyond his years vocally, he has yet to develop depth and experience in his delivery to become truly captivating.
The anthemic Breakaway and the Welsh-inspired Spectacular Rival followed by the inevitable Budapest brought us into the station. A heartfelt encore speech saw George proclaiming he could tick off a to do on the Bucket List he made as a BIMM student, headlining Colston Hall.
Photo of George Ezra at The Gallimaufry by James Koch
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