Antony & The Johnsons at QEH
Posted by: Dougunn on 28 June 2005
Having been really disappointed to 'miss the boat' for tickets to see Antony and The Johnsons (AATJ) appearing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall it was a good day when I saw a forum member had a couple of spare ticket . . .
To cut a long story short, thanks to Chris, last Friday I found myself in the front row stalls of the QEH . . . .
Perhaps the best word to sum up AATJ is 'kooky' and the performance on Friday was certainly that! I don't recall ever having seen an artist less at ease with an audience or more uncomfortable with engaging them. Throughout the performance Antony stooped, looked down, hid his face behind a fright wig and generally behaved like a moody teenager. Strangely though, such behaviour (which from anyone else would look like naff posturing) never grated or irritated - just fascinated!
But what about the music?
For those who have not heard AATJ - they are a group(?) of musicians (cello, accordion, violin, violin/guitar and electric bass) fronted by Antony a man gifted with the most extraordinary voice - the closest description would be Nina Simone crossed with Billie Holiday (and that's still nowhere near!).
Opening the set with 'My Lady Story' I think there were few in the QEH who did not feel a shiver run down their spine at hearing Antony's voice in the flesh - it really is amazing. Unfortunately, and for most of the performance, Antony seemed unable to sit still as he sang and consequently was frequently out of range of his microphone resulting in 'the voice' coming and going like the sun behind patchy clouds! This aside, it has to be noted that Antony has the most incredible sense of pitch and tone I have ever heard - not once was he even remotely off key.
Unfortunately although Antony is blessed with a sense of pitch and control that is truly remarkable the same cannot be said of his timing. I'm not sure if he was trying to bring some kind of jazz vibe to the performance but frequently some of the songs performed were excruciating and all over the place with no sense of rhythm at all. It was fascinating to watch the Johnson's (particularly the bass player) desperately watching Antony for clues as to where the hell he was going with a song and to try and keep playing together!
Much as I think AATJ could be destined for real greatness and have the kind of talent that doesn't come along often, it has to be said that Antony is not a great songwriter. His own songs are too often indulgent, unfocussed, wandering, hackneyed and, at times, just amateur - this was made startlingly clear on Friday with the contrast between Antony's own works and bits from L. Cohen or the Velvet Underground. Antony's performance of "Candy Says" was utterly wonderful, truly moving and a million miles from the overblown interpretations of his own songs.
Don't get me wrong, the concert was superb, and most definiately a performance (in every sense of the word) but watching AATJ one cannot help but feel it's a work still in progress. Personally I would love to see them team up with a really talented producer who could nurture the greatness they are no doubt capable of to create something very special indeed.
Doug
To cut a long story short, thanks to Chris, last Friday I found myself in the front row stalls of the QEH . . . .
Perhaps the best word to sum up AATJ is 'kooky' and the performance on Friday was certainly that! I don't recall ever having seen an artist less at ease with an audience or more uncomfortable with engaging them. Throughout the performance Antony stooped, looked down, hid his face behind a fright wig and generally behaved like a moody teenager. Strangely though, such behaviour (which from anyone else would look like naff posturing) never grated or irritated - just fascinated!
But what about the music?
For those who have not heard AATJ - they are a group(?) of musicians (cello, accordion, violin, violin/guitar and electric bass) fronted by Antony a man gifted with the most extraordinary voice - the closest description would be Nina Simone crossed with Billie Holiday (and that's still nowhere near!).
Opening the set with 'My Lady Story' I think there were few in the QEH who did not feel a shiver run down their spine at hearing Antony's voice in the flesh - it really is amazing. Unfortunately, and for most of the performance, Antony seemed unable to sit still as he sang and consequently was frequently out of range of his microphone resulting in 'the voice' coming and going like the sun behind patchy clouds! This aside, it has to be noted that Antony has the most incredible sense of pitch and tone I have ever heard - not once was he even remotely off key.
Unfortunately although Antony is blessed with a sense of pitch and control that is truly remarkable the same cannot be said of his timing. I'm not sure if he was trying to bring some kind of jazz vibe to the performance but frequently some of the songs performed were excruciating and all over the place with no sense of rhythm at all. It was fascinating to watch the Johnson's (particularly the bass player) desperately watching Antony for clues as to where the hell he was going with a song and to try and keep playing together!
Much as I think AATJ could be destined for real greatness and have the kind of talent that doesn't come along often, it has to be said that Antony is not a great songwriter. His own songs are too often indulgent, unfocussed, wandering, hackneyed and, at times, just amateur - this was made startlingly clear on Friday with the contrast between Antony's own works and bits from L. Cohen or the Velvet Underground. Antony's performance of "Candy Says" was utterly wonderful, truly moving and a million miles from the overblown interpretations of his own songs.
Don't get me wrong, the concert was superb, and most definiately a performance (in every sense of the word) but watching AATJ one cannot help but feel it's a work still in progress. Personally I would love to see them team up with a really talented producer who could nurture the greatness they are no doubt capable of to create something very special indeed.
Doug