Jamie T, Alexandra Palace, gig review: Less cheeky, ramshackle street-poet slurs and a more rock-refined style
The singer has evolved into a wry, self-critical commandeer
It is a momentous night for 28-year-old troubadour Jamie Treays as he makes his long-awaited return to the London stage with a fiery and powerful performance.
Following a five-year gap since his first flurry of albums – 2007's debut Panic Prevention and 2009's Kings & Queens – his extraordinary third album, Carry On The Grudge is the long-gestated release that sees Treays finally crack the mainstream.
Stuffed with narratives of contemporary bohemian life; the new songs contain less of the cheeky, ramshackle street-poet slurs and more rock-refined style and lyrical turns that create a darker and more sweeping momentum.
Dressed in a leather jacket and baseball cap, Traeys fires Joe Strummer guitar blasts on exuberant rough-rock singles "Zombie", "Don't You Find" and finale "Rabbit Hole", expressing lyrically touching moments on folk-lilted "Mary Lee" and "Love Is Only A Heartbeat Away".
New songs are met with as many cheers and slurred-shout alongs from the geezer-centric crowd as the older, belligerently catchy numbers like: "368", "If You Got The Money" and "Sticks and Stones", sung by support act Hollie Cook.
Jamie T has cast off the likely lad-persona and evolved as a wry, self-critical commandeer who never skimps on the catchy hooks and tonight, makes a most confident and welcome return.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies