Review: Charlie Cunningham returns emphatically at Lafayette
After a four year gap in touring and since his last record, Charlie Cunningham is met with a giddy reception at the second of two sold out nights at the aptly intimate venue Lafayette.
Second song Bite speaks a wise truth about friendships in the words ‘The same friends knock you when they need poison in your blood’, layered with irresistible acoustic guitar.
In Breather, the sentiment of the line 'Tomorrow we could all be gone' hits home with the struggle of the last few years and the idea of making the most of the here and now.
APRIL
11th - UK, London, Lafayette (SOLD OUT)
12th - UK, London, Lafayette (ADDED SHOW)
14th - UK, Manchester, Band on the Wall
15th - ROI, Dublin, Liberty Hall
17th - UK, Glasgow, St. Luke’s
19th - UK, Bristol, St. George’s
20th - UK, Brighton, CHALK
25th - Switzerland, Zürich, Kaufleuten
27th - Austria, Vienna, Arena
28th - Germany, Munich, Isarphilharmonie
29th - Germany, Leipzig, Felsenkeller
MAY
1st - Germany, Hamburg, Laeiszhalle - Grosser Saal
2nd - Germany, Cologne, Gloria Theatre
4th - Germany, Berlin, Admiralspalast
5th - Germany, Frankfurt, Sankt Peter
6th - Germany, Dortmund, Konzerthaus
8th - Netherlands, Amsterdam, Paradiso
9th - Belgium, Antwerp, De Roma
10th - France, Paris, La Maroquinerie
12th - Spain, Barcelona, Razzmatazz
13th - Spain, Valencia, Sala Jerusalem
14th - Spain, Madrid, Teatro Eslava
Remaining tickets are available HERE.
Downpour has a mesmeric echoing effect that seems to reverberates like an intense yet soothing beating heart inside the room.
The teasing drums at the end grip a hugely engaged crowd, who acknowledge the musicianship with a great applause.
Pausing briefly to address the crowd, Charlie opens endearingly “I have calmed down a bit now, I was really nervous, it was lingering but I think it’s passed”.
A soothing trumpet solo layering over gentle piano with minimal lyrics creates a beautiful ambience, and unusually for a young audience there are no phones out, no distractions, just his voice and a calming darkness in the crowd.
Speaking about his newly released third album Frame, which came out at the end of March, he describes the simple inspiration behind new track Water Tower; ‘When I wrote this song, I could see a water tower from my window which is on the tour poster”.
He then jokes “For those of you with a babysitter or trains to catch… I’m going to play 4 more songs, it’s good to know sometimes” which is met with great laughter.
Describing the Spanish flamenco style guitar in Headlights, he says the "Guitar was influenced by living in Seville early on in my career”. Permanent Way is rich with compelling imagery ‘A penny for your thoughts, before they reach the shore’.
His self-deprecating rapport is a hit with his fans "It’s been a long time since we’ve toured so the fact there’s people here is really reassuring” an emphatic end to the night.
Before leaving the stage for a one song encore he dryly quips about the encore “All that drama and theatre - so predictable”, then You Sigh stirs with every word sung back to him, leaving the fans wanting more.