No Kanye West-style histrionics here, then.
Twenty-four hours after the rap world displayed its more unpleasant side to Birmingham, a thor-oughly cleancut, wholesome and downright nice audience packed
the NEC to see quintessential American ex-surfer boy Jack Johnson.
Highlighting tunes from his new album In Between Dreams, Johnson, his guitar and his three-man band offered up a two-hour set brimming with sunshine and inoffensiveness.
Songs like Good People and Waiting, Wishing, Hoping, kept a young and largely female audience singing along happily, but to this reviewer, it was telling that the most distinctive, exciting, song of the night was a cover of The White Stripes' My Doorbell.
Everything else displayed the requisite musical skill and the occasional presence of a Dobro steel guitar was pleasing to eye and ear, but Johnson, who has an interesting enough voice, will surely need more variety in the songwriting department to progress.
He also needs some stage presence. Waiting until two songs into the encore before engaging the audience in conversation is not the way to win over the undecided.
In short? Nice . . . but no more.
Martin Warrillow
