To say John Grant hasn’t had much luck is like saying Sandi Thom was only a little bit miffed about missing out on the Radio 2 playlist.
Aside from HIV, heartbreak and haemorrhoids (all subjects which the US singer-songwriter hasn’t shied away from in his brutally honest lyrics), three years ago the man had his laptop stolen from a church in Brighton. That’s a bit like being mugged by a bunch of nuns.
But Grant holds no grudges, and this gig at the Brighton Dome cemented the now Icelandic-based Grant’s reputation as one of the most exciting and versatile artists of this or any other generation.
Grant gave a masterclass in how to arrange a gig. At first, through songs such as the beautiful, piano-led Mars he allowed his band, backing choir and own rich, deep vocals to warm the crowd up nicely.
By the time he dropped his breakthrough hit Pale Green Ghost, the venue had turned into dark, dirty disco, which carried on through until the triumphant and glorious love song, Disappointed.
Grant wields together intelligent, world-weary lyrics with an understated operatic style the likes of which his peers simply cannot match.
And that’s not luck, that’s talent.
Four stars
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