Robert Vincent at Leaf on Bold Street. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Even if you have been aware of an artist’s work for a while, there is something unimaginably superb at catching them live for the first time. With Robert Vincent opening up at Leaf before Dave O’ Grady, the audience realised very early into Robert’s set that they were in for a very enjoyable and exclusive, entertaining evening.

These two young men, whose work complements each other in the same vein that includes Barry Briercliffe, Stephen Langstaff and Johnny Walker, are amongst the pinnacle of their generation in Liverpool acoustically and when you add in the talent of Alan O’ Hare, the music flows like honey on a warm summer’s day.

With Mr. Vincent playing to a delighted audience at Leaf, there was no room to compare on the night; his music speaks more volumes than the Encyclopaedia Britannica ever could and his easy going nature hides a guitar player of rampaging steel, it is no wonder that he, quite rightly, was amongst the nominees at this year’s Liverpool Music Awards.

With Danny Williams by his side on double bass, Robert Vincent more than showed why that nomination was deserved. In a short set, Mr Vincent placed the standard very high for Dave O’ Grady to follow. As the music flowed through the upstairs at Leaf, the audience settled in for the long haul and enjoyed the opening tracks of Light of the Stars, Burns and the brilliant Life in Easy Steps.

There is something very charming about watching Robert on stage, the beguiling persuasiveness that he manages to exude captures the attentive listener with effortless simplicity and it’s not long before that listener’s foot is tapping in the time honoured fashion.

With only the barest time on stage to get the message across, Robert Vincent played a set worthy of the night and even though the musician complained with a certain likeable mocking that his voice was irritated by a cough, it didn’t matter one little bit. The songs he sang were fresh and rousing.

Robert finished a lovely start to the evening at Leaf with The Passage, The Bomb and the superb Demons.

One of the young greats of Liverpool, his reputation enhanced and his music hugely enjoyable!

Ian D. Hall