Paddy James live @ Four Bars, Cardiff 16th May 2015

There's a number of ways you can turn an Oasis cover song into a toe-curling nightmare, for example mashing it up with a Bon Jovi song (it's happened before) or perhaps just trying to emanate that unique Gallagher "charm" too closely and proving once again that only Liam and Noel get a free pass at that King of the World arrogance. All eyes on Paddy James then, who's chosen to open with a cover of 'Supersonic'. Gratefully, his light and bouncy approach has turned it into a full-blown pop song that still has teeth but this time on a much happier pup that's more inclined to lick your toes than bite your arse.




It's a daring way to begin your first full-band show, but it's a strong signifier of what to expect for him; big tunes swung into the realm of straight-forward fiery pop. There are other covers on display as well, but they serve to indicate the direction he's working towards rather than to simply fluff up his setlist.

Previously performing as a solo artist, tonight's show at Four Bars is Paddy James' first with his full band shortly after rounding them up. It's quickly made clear why Paddy chose to attack this with a band, as his funky sensibilities are brought to life the way he clearly imagined when writing the songs on his own.


Early song 'Bullet' is a rollicking rabble rouser, while 'Lost Boy' plays off a First World woe ('There's bitches running rings around my head') with a ska-drenched smirking retort.


'Feel Your Love' pins back the carefree to expose a Jack Johnson-esque nerve. It does quickly become broader with a sure-footed chorus, but the stripped opening verse counters that brilliantly (There was never a day when I had nothing/ Still waiting on the day i have it all). It's great to be able to knock up a catchy chorus, but the trick is making us believe it means something and Paddy succeeds here.

Back to the covers songs and there's a pretty wonderful hybrid of Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good' and Ray Charles' 'Hit The Road Jack' that volleys effortlessly between high soul and jaunty rock 'n' roll. perhaps more impressive is how turning Usher's 'OMG' into a genuinely funky yet emotional song seems to be a natural thing to do for this guy. How can a song that Will.I.Am had anything to do with survive without autotune and robot dancing? Ask Paddy because I'm still working it out. 




As mentioned at the start, the cover songs, whether intentional or not seem picked to let us know where Paddy is heading. At the very least, it helped a mostly new audience ease into singing along wherever they could, and the by time penultimate song 'Cheeky Bugger' is stomping its way around the upstairs of this Cardiff pub, the place is happily caught on yet another jazzy hook, . Job done, then.


Paddy James performing 'Leaving You' at Four Bars, Cardiff


Comments

  1. ...sensory writing...amazing and beautifully articulate loved it vs

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