Gig review: George Ezra

DESPITE the modestly-sized venue, the outpouring of beer-hazed Friday night affection for singer-songwriter George Ezra from his youthful audience suggested his career is just bursting to grow into ever-larger venues.
George Ezra. Picture: FacebookGeorge Ezra. Picture: Facebook
George Ezra. Picture: Facebook

George Ezra - Liquid Room, Edinburgh

****

Only 21 years of age, the Hertfordshire-born Ezra has so far in his young career thrived on a wave of buzzing hype and the approval of carefully positioned industry movers, but as he plays more shows like this his message will surely spread fast.

There can be little doubt that, as far as commercially-focused solo talents go, Ezra is a huge talent and a big success waiting to happen. His thunderclap voice is addictive, and it resonates with the kind of experience which a man of his youth has no right to display, speaking of a kind of weather-worn folk-blues which bears hints of his great influences Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. Yet his sound is somehow more robust and youthful, fusing elements of Seasick Steve’s grizzled blues-rock with Jake Bugg’s noisy, everybloke indie.

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His songs are fast and urgent, with an occasional hint of countrified emoting amidst tracks including Cassy O’, Barcelona and a solo version of Leaving It Up to You. Budapest benefitted from a thrilling, driving rhythm, Benjamin Twyne possessed a rich, bassy vocal growl and snap, and the closing Did You Hear the Rain? segued quite wonderfully from a minimal gospel spiritual into a rough-edged Arctic Monkeys style rocker. Expect to hear much more of him before long.

Seen on 13.06.14