I had my first trip to Cardiff yesterday to see Martyn Joseph play a launch concert for his new recording “Vegas”. Phil and I arrived about 4pm and got a great parking spot right next to the Norwegian Church where the gig was to be held. It was a beautifully warm and sunny afternoon so we wandered around the docks area and then consumed much food at a tapas bar overlooking the bay.
We headed back to the church for a drinks reception at 7 and the gig began at 8pm. The venue was very small and Martyn’s natural intimacy and warmth were enhanced by the fact he was only touching distance away. Martyn was accompanied by Mike Haughton which was a nice surprise as I used to watch them perform together around 20 years ago. Mike’s seemingly effortless and understated contribution added a wonderful richness to some of the songs and they both obviously enjoy performing together.
The new songs are great and you can listen to some of them on the website and at Martyn’s myspace. Weight Of The World and Things That We Have Carried Here are initial favourites and the title track is upbeat, fun and instantly memorable. To top it all off we were treated to the always haunting Cardiff Bay as we sat gazing across the place. Worth the five hour round trip on its own.
