Review: Robb Johnson, Bournebeat Hotel, Bournemouth (From Bournemouth Echo)

Review: Robb Johnson, Bournebeat Hotel, Bournemouth

9:48am Wednesday 29th April 2009 in Search By Tom Blay

We turn on the radio and it seems all you hear from the male singer songwriter field is a handful of over-saturated dour pop-stars whining about the complexities of failed relationships. This makes angst ridden tales from the heart all the more refreshing to witness live.

Robb Johnson’s solo set starts in a light hearted fashion. One moment we are treated to a vignette about taking a class of unruly primary school children to the swimming baths during his time as a supply teacher. Later we hear about his time playing gigs across the Atlantic in Almost The Homecoming Queen. These cement the fact that we are set to hear songs based on the personal experiences of the performer. The set turns heated as Johnson’s political beliefs emerge in The Prince And Private Gentle. Views about sending people to die at war are displayed passionately. We later hear his opinions on how England is ‘the land of the moron’ and ‘the bigger the car, the smaller the brain’. The way he tells it, it is hard to disagree. Meanwhile, Johnson’s guitar skills pull the songs together and add a soothing back drop.

Each song is preceded by an explanation of the track. A particularly relevant example for tonight is Dorset Moon. Johnson describes how it was written with the help of the ghost of Thomas Hardy after a night of drinking Fursty Ferret whilst watching the moon hover over Corfe Castle. This is a fitting image to end the show.