– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER –
“You can hear a pin drop…….”
Joshua Radin is a talented man. That’s a fact. In times gone by he made his way as an artist, a teacher and a screenwriter. Then he picked up a guitar and began to write songs that capture the mind, body and soul. If ever a personality matched the songs they sing then Joshua is that definition. He may appear shy at times on stage however he sings and plays with a confidence of a man who has done this all his life, not as he states as a man who “8 years ago I picked up a guitar”.
It may only be 8 years but Joshua is already renowned as a musician who captivates the room no matter how big or small. Sometimes he wanders from behind the microphone to let his voice and acoustic guitar fill the room. No one makes a sound until the songs end then the room pauses before erupting. The concert touches the crowd like a spiritual experience, songs from his new long player ‘Underwater’ such as ‘Anyway Your Love Goes’ and ‘Tomorrow Is Going To Be Better’ are delivered with a smile and a passion that weaves its way through the audience making the whole room glow.
It was my wife who introduced me to Mr Radin via the songs he wrote for the soundtracks to films such as ‘Catch and Release’ and ‘Adam’. These films mirror the songs in a way. Fragile, touching and simple beauty personified. The stripped down ‘Winter’ is the perfect opposite to the driving through LA countryside to the beach song ‘Let It Go’.
In parts Ryan Adams, in parts Dylan, in parts Bright Eyes, Joshua Radin takes the best bits of those artists and creates an atmosphere all of his own. The crowd are treated to stories of love, break up and reconciliation in-between such songs as ‘Brand New Day’, ‘We are Okay’ and ‘Any Day Now’. During ‘The Ones With The Light’ the crowd are divided down the middle rock n roll style for crowd participation, which just reaffirms the love in the room.
The personal highlight is the sublime and sing a long love song, ‘I’d Rather Be With You’ which is what I’m listening too as I write this.
At times the performance verged on perfect and after many many years of watching artists perform it is the first time I could have heard a pin drop at Manchester Academy. That is the respect and quality of this singer / songwriter is greeted with by a crowd that is here for the experience which is one that will not be forgotten easily.
Im a teacher by day and a music lover all the time. I have promoted over 500 shows as Interkonnect including Get Up Kids, Big Business, Hella, Jim Bob, Clorox Girls, New Amsterdams, Juffage, Vessels etc etc etc. Im the oldest emo in Bolton and love Dischord, Vagrant, Jade Tree, Deep Elm, In The Red, Touch and Go, Southern Lord type labels. High Fidelity top five - Jawbreaker, Get Up Kids, Man From Delmonte, Ween and Descendents ( thats this week!!! ) - Hope you enjoy Silent Radio and what i have to say, love ya'll Ivan
