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Alive Lounge at Lola Jean's - 28/5/15

First up at Lola Jean's was the soulful voice of Sam Thomas. Initially my party and I nicknamed him 'The Twat in the hat', however we quickly ate our own words, after being wooed by his liquid chocolate voice. His enchanting voice resonated beautifully, evoking a chilled ambience. This was then heightened by his melodic guitar and suave presence. The highlight of his first set was his gorgeous rendition of Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box', as he brought a delicate sincerity to the angsty anthem.
Sam's second set was somewhat more upbeat, opening with a cheery cover of Paolo Nutini's 'New Shoes', which got the whole room bopping along in between sips of their various beverages. The power behind his voice was best displayed when he sang Led Zeppelin's rock classic 'Give you my love'. I recall the neighbouring table murmuring: "Dayum, boy got some pipes on him". My  personal favourite moment of his set however was when he privileged us with a glimpse of his amiable nature and wit. When he announced that he would be doing 'a bit of Brit-pop', I (a little too loudly) muttered: "bet you it's 'Wonderwall!". Which evoked the witty repartee of: "And no its not Oasis!", before breaking into Supergrass  and leaving me scarlet-cheeked!
The second performer of the night was the angelic Paige Temperley, a woman with an utterly bewitching voice. Her Nora Jones-esque voice was lovingly coupled with peppy guitar lines, similar to those found in James McArthur's music. Paige executed a beauteous and mellow set, but I don't think the chilled venue did her voice justice. Her renditions of 'Black and Gold' and 'No Church in the West' made it apparent that she has an excellent vocal control. I want to hear her belt it out and really project the emotion that fuels her original numbers. Her song: 'Theory Combined', was a superb medley of intricate guitar and witty lyrics. However, I think this tune will be utterly enthralling when revved up and played with a band. Paige is clearly very talented and I really want to hear how big her powerful voice really is!
Next up was the lovely Hannah Brown - a regular and favourite at Lola's. Hannah has a such a compelling voice and was undoubtedly the best guitarist of the night. Her voice is very similar to Bonnie Raitt's, and has a gorgeously bluesy undertone. It possesses the most magical tone that will soothe you into a mirthful state of being. It's the embodiment of those hazy, blissful summer days and has this universally classic tone to it. I'm really looking forward to hearing more from the native Morpeth lass.
Concluding the night was 75% of Back into the Wild (soon to be abbreviated to B.I.T.W.). Despite their bass player being caught up in the Lakes District, B.I.T.W. executed a fantastic set. The lads were emerged in their music - with drummer Michael's head serving as a vigorous metronome! Their sound was composed of keys/vocals, guitar and percussion and channelled a stunning indie vibe. The ambience evoked  by the group drew parallels with the likes of the XX, and their vocalist sounded like a British Nate Ruess. The group have a panache for captivating tracks that can evoke chilled atmospheres whilst making you want to get up to dance. These lads will definitely thrive in the local music scene, and fit in perfectly with the likes of Immy Williams and Lord Swans.


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