aaamusic | On 12, May 2012

10th May

I’ve often wondered what the oddest place I’ve seen a band perform in is. It feels like I’ve been to a number of the most unorthodox places one can think of to watch a band do what they do best, in Edinburgh I saw Zoey Van Goey perform in an art gallery, in London I saw Biffy Clyro play in the Apple store on Regent Street but this, one of the best singer songwriters of his generation performing in the embassy of a country that he isn’t even from, takes the proverbial biscuit. Being an artist that is more forward thinking than many would give credit for, Chris T-T has decided to tour his latest E.P, The Taking of Clarkson’s Lighthouse (before it’s even finished, let alone released) in venues that, while in major cities around England, still can be considered off the beaten track. Tonight takes place in the offices of the New Zealand embassy and, while he does comment on how cruel it is to take people going on a night out to the very place they’re likely trying to forget with every fibre of their being, an office, he still pulls it off and makes it a truly special experience, one that probably isn’t going to catch on and take the world by storm, but still one that will not be forgotten any time soon.

Up first however is support act She Makes War, I rarely comment on support acts when reviewing gigs but for this I will make a pointed exception. She was something truly special, crafting haunting, melancholic pop songs out of looped guitar lines, ukuleles and her own ethereal singing voice. Unfortunately, the first signs that this evening might not pan out entirely as planned slowly make themselves known. No-one in the room is familiar with her so there is a pronounced air of awkwardness, especially in the long pauses between songs, but before too long she easily captivates the forty-odd people assembled tonight again, even generating something of a sing-along with her closing number, the subtly anthemic Scared To Capsize. It’s a spellbinding set, reminiscent of Amanda Palmer’s Radiohead covers if they were twice as good as the originals and one that complements Chris T-T’s bare bones directness excellently. Just to emphasise how intimate this set is the music played between sets comes from Chris’ own iPod plugged into some portable speakers, most will talk about pub gigs and Barfly sets as the pinnacle of intimate gigs but in all honesty, save for a gig from The Enemy in a Glastonbury Festival toilet block, I haven’t heard of a gig this intimate. Does it work? Without a hint of hesitation, yes.

Chris is evidently in his element, last time I saw him was a the Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, where most of the set was spent baiting the large hipster contingent in attendance, tonight, where everyone sits in reverent silence for his songs and absolutely no-one sported ironic facial hair, he seems to be a lot more comfortable. He cracks jokes in between (and sometimes during) songs, he compliments us frequently and gives numerous shout outs to his support act and his little sister who was on the door tonight. The songs are, or course, fantastic, The Huntsman Comes A’ Marchin’ rattles along with his trademark ire, Market Square, an A.A Milne poem set to music for his Edinburgh Fringe show, Disobedience, is so unapologetically sweet it would be saccharine if it weren’t for it’s wonderful melody. Even the more serious numbers like Elephant in the Room and Love is Not Rescue feel like seamless aspects of a well put together set rather than the slight hectoring that Chris can sometimes be guilty of.

In all, this is an excellent gig, Chris took a risk with both the venue and the support but both paid off spectacularly. He may not ever explain precisely why he decided to book this most, er, unique of places for tonight, despite claiming many times that he will, but the fact still remains that Chris T-T is something very special indeed, a rare breed of artist that the vast majority of his contemporaries could learn a lot from. Even if they don’t however, as long as we have him underground music will continue to innovate in ways most couldn’t fathom.

 

Will Howard