Jamie T, Southampton Guildhall (From Bournemouth Echo)

Jamie T, Southampton Guildhall

10:42am Wednesday 3rd February 2010

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FIRST, a point of order.

Jamie T holds no apologies for playing these songs fast.

Anyone who doesn’t like it can “go and watch Paulo Nutini”, apparently.

But the truth is, the fast/slow debate is a red herring.

Because Jamie T’s live show has metamorphosed into something far, far greater.

Those who yearn for the intricacies of his records to be expressed live had previously been irked by the frenetic clatter of Jamie’s shows.

But fast, slow or somewhere in between, Jamie and the Pacemakers have nailed it now.

Opening gambit The Man’s Machine is all the proof you need.

The aching swell of the melody allows Jamie’s elastic lyrical babble to take centre stage and immediately sweep the Guildhall off its collective feet.

Salvador has lost none of its headspinning momentum, while acoustic ballad Emily’s Heart manages to achieve startling intimacy.

It is on signature tune Sheila where everything spectacularly comes together.

Jamie carefully picks through his sprawling gutter fable before building it flawlessly to its fist-pumping climax.

A sign-off stomp through Sticks ‘n’ Stones is just showing off.

Multi-talented though he undoubtedly is, Mr T now seems happier to allow the Pacemakers to apply the elbow grease while he works the crowd.

Mind you, he’ll doubtless be regretting the gleefully accepted invitation to throw any plastic bottles at the band during the encore.

At least it proves the man is fallible.

Still not enough to make you go and see Paulo Nutini, mind.

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