Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

It may seem incredible to some, but to those who truly get Robert Vincent, who have listened to the man and his album Life In Easy Steps and who have watched with awe and a bucket load of wonder at the tremendous talent that resides in the body of a music giant in the making, nothing really should ever come as a surprise. Whether performing at Leaf, The Unity Theatre and Camp and Furnace in Liverpool or out on the road supporting the legendary Paul Carrack for a few months, Rob Vincent is a performer who can make a jaw audibly drop from 30 feet in stunned appreciation.

Back home in Liverpool he comes out on stage at the Philharmonic Hall, supported by some of the musicians who have been right alongside him on this staggering journey, Mr. Vincent takes yet another step forward in wowing a huge crowd. The atmosphere is just right, the lights are dimmed, an imposing shadow forms eerily on the back wall as if bought about by the spell of fine music to come and in six short songs, Robert Vincent and the band take some old favourites out for a stroll in amongst a crowd that in short didn’t know what hit them.

Like so many of his fellow musicians in Liverpool, Robert disarms the audience, not with an overriding sense of power or uncalled for burgeoning of strength but with wit, charm the soft velvet voice and passionate lyrics delivered in the hand of an iron glove.  The lyrics and the mood are delivered perfectly and always with a keen sense of understanding that the crowd need to be entertained, such is their right of course. This is also with the knowledge that if the crowd really listens and doesn’t completely have their head tuned into another act yet to take the stage, then they too will get the message being presented like an unexpected bouquet of roses arriving at your door with just a solitary x in the card.

With just enough time to perform six songs, Robert Vincent and the band performed such tracks as Blue, Burns, the fantastic Life In Easy Steps, The Bomb and the superb Demons with quiet assurance and with a few new converts nodding their head in approval.

It is always good to have Robert Vincent back in Liverpool and doing what he does best; life really does seem to drag when he and others like him are not around to thrill an audience or two.

Ian D. Hall