so yesterday I went to see  a nice intimate afternoon acoustic show at the Hillgrove pub which is just up behind The Croft. it was the perfect setting for a one man and his guitar style show, headlining was the absolutely incredible PJ Bond.

I remember stumbling across him was in the front bar of the Croft, opening up for a donations/free entry show. I can just remember standing on the tiny stage and his voice just rang around the room so much, that he abandoned the stage, stamping on the floor.

It was really  nice surprise to enter the warm surroundings of the Hillgrove and have him say hello to me remembering my name, that to me is pretty incredible because my memory for names is pretty shot, most of you who know me have seen me flounder when trying to remember. it is this kind of Warmth that makes him really endearing as a person.

His songs are really emotionally intense, with songs about love lost, tear drenching sandness and heart warming profound lyricism. He is one of the many songwriters that try an reach out to people. vocally he sounds like a more bitter sweet version Brian Fallon, as his songs echo with moments of pure americana mixed in with elements of Dashboard Confessional. there is also at times a bit of a nod towards Niel Youngs Needle and the Damage done.

not only that but he also displays the sort of tendencies that made mark Eitzels voice stand out from American Music club, really emotionally unstrained and beautiful, at the same time he almost accidentally sounds a bit like James Dean Bradfield, not that that is a bad thing.

There is a real richness in his ability to portrait characters within his songs, whether it be about family members, friend or just people he has just happened to come across in his path. Each song laments about a different story, laying down the whole beginning middle and end, so it feels like as if I was being taken on a trail.

In the warm intimate setting of the Hillgrove, this meant that at times i was fighting back the tears, I admit to being an overly emotional person and certain sounds bring a tear to my eye. I would personally rate him for people who like singers that can make people realise there is something more to songwriting then moaning about not getting the girl of your dreams. The place is almost pin drop silent as there is no amplification, or over complication of the song writing craft.

Each one of his songs displayed what i call an earnest skill with words that embrace the ears. I could feel my heart rattle even without the use of a mic, stripped back delicate feel with a rawness in his voice. Beautiful.