XFM XPOSURE: Sam Duckworth Live @The Barfly

It seems odd to think of this gig as a triumphant new beginning as Duckworth has been around for a while as Get Cape Wear Cape Fly but it certainly has an air of victory about it. He has recently signed to the great Alcopop Records and is desperate to repay their faith. So much so he is oddly nervous and tentative about his trademark between song rants. For the tightly packed crowd however, this was another affirmation of the Essex boys ingenuity.

TT last saw Duckworth under his own guise in the New Cross Inn back in 2011. It was cracking little set but very sombre. The songs from ‘Mannequin’ are beautifully melancholy and suited the one man and his guitar performance. This outing witnesses a full band in tandem and at times with two sax players, two backing singers and two violinists. The new crew lift the older songs ‘Mannequin’ and in particular ‘Nights’. With the band behind him, this number grew into a dark force of nature and became incredibly spellbinding.

For TT, the two best songs from ‘Mannequin’ are the solemn and sombre ‘Angels’ and ’18 to 1’. Duckworth thankfully plays these without the band and the achingly beautiful melancholy tone shines through, leaving an audience emotionally exhausted and stunned at the power of one man and a guitar. 

Duckworth’s new material goes down well tonight. His songwriting remains firmly in a purple patch as he stretches himself to filter in influences by Elvis Costello and Belle and Sebastian. It is always inspiring to see an established artist challenging themselves, so, how apt that his protegee Sean McGowan is in the audience to witness this showing. We couldn't think of a better guy for Sean to be mentored by or one we hope they collaborate with in the future.

Also on the bill were soon Radstewart and Emperor Yes. Radstewart’s frontman is a joy to behold. Full of dark humour and irony he is a dead cert to become an icon for a generation. He appears to be bored half the time like The Cribs’ Ryan Jarman but no-one in the audience can take their eyes off him. Adding to that, he has a sublime voice which sounds like Art Brut’s Eddie Argos and Stephen Malkmus. TT predicts a big future.

Emperor Yes were a breath of fresh air as they put the fun back into indie music. They are evidently hail from the school of Flaming Lips and Postal service which, lets face it, is always a good thing. As John Kennedy said after their set ‘who thought a song about wasps could be so goo’. Here Here.