Wow, where do I begin? JON GOMM has claimed so many column inches that it’s difficult to find something original to say about him. Fortunately he has given us a bit of help on this front by coming up with “The Collaborators”, a series of monthly concerts featuring a set by Jon, a set by a guest musician and then a final joint set: completely unrehearsed, completely improvised.
It is the musical equivalent of watching a magician saw a woman in half: you know it’s entertainment but there’s the voyeuristic excitement of the potential for disaster. Fortunately we have our own musical musician at the helm, the David Blaine of the acoustic guitar if you will, Mr Gomm himself.
If you haven’t seen Jon then what the hell is wrong with you? It’s almost impossible to find new ways of describing his style of playing: emotional, percussive, breathtaking; you really do have to see it to believe it. Yet he is not simply a freakshow, the staggering playing ability is simply a method of delivery for his equally brilliant songwriting ability. Jon’s set starts with the instrumental “Waterfall”, a death (and RSI) defying tour-de-force of the acoustic guitar’s percussive potential, before progressing through established set favourites. The highlight of the set is, undoubtedly, “Butterfly Hurricane”, though I’ve heard it live on several occasions, and even more on CD, Jon’s relentless gigging schedule has now refined his performance and I can honestly say this is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever had the fortune to listen to.
Following Jon is always going to be a tricky affair, a fact acknowledged by Gallo front woman, Tash, when she quips that in order to do so they had to bring a bass, a sax and a drum kit. Gallo are one of Leeds’ best kept secrets, on a circuit dominated by loud, male-fronted rock bands they provide something a bit special, a laid back, jazz/funk sound delivered by a group of tremendously talented individuals. Tash possesses one of the finest, most unique voices you are ever likely to hear, flitting between a delicate, breathy delivery and all out soul-mamma growling, all the while remaining totally captivating. Possibly the only fault with Gallo is that they fail to divulge any of the song titles so I am forced into lines such as “the second one was great”, fortunately I know one title from previous gigs and it is this track, “Lost Weekends” which steals the show for Gallo.
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The two opening sets over with there is now a 20 minute break during which approximately 150 men rush to use one urinal. Several fall victim to The Mixing Tin’s comedy washbasin which sprays a torrent of water directly at the crotch. I dance the lavatory-limbo in a vain attempt to dry my trousers under the hand dryer before finally admitting defeat and running back to catch the finale: the improvised set.
“For the benefit of the audience,” smirks Jon “The next song is in E, then it goes to A then B in the chorus”, make no mistake, this set is improvised but our virtuoso host is more than capable of making sure things run smoothly. We kick off with “I just want to make love to you” and before the set culminates with an improvised free-for-all we are treated to covers of Portishead and even “Alright Now” by free, Jon seeming to relish in his big, hair-rock guitar solo. Along the way we hear another Gallo track and a “full-band” version of Jon’s own “Crazy Jonny”, the audience are ecstatic, and well they should be, this is a gig which will live in the memory long after the tinnitus has faded.
“The Collaborators” is a concept worthy of success, and judging by the calibre of the musicians already signed up to play (Dan Beesly next month and Brendan Crocker after that) it cannot fail to succeed. If you haven’t seen Jon already this is an ideal opportunity to break yourself in, if you have seen him then obviously you’ll want to see him again and these gigs provide an ideal opportunity, who knows, you might even discover a few new heroes along the way.
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