Live Review: Patrick James, Luke Thompson, Jordan Leser

Newtown Social was almost filled to the brim even as the first support act Jordan Leser graced the stage with her harkening, eerie keyboard sounds and low, haunting vocal drones. Her repetitive piano motifs made for a fluid set with each song blending into the other. The electric guitar and male vocal accompaniment enhanced a dreamy tone and made for an effective and lovely contrast.  

Luke Thompson entered the stage to cheers, inciting singalongs and delivering a crescendo of performance energy. As his set unfolded, Thompson’s simple strumming, touching lyrics and folk-like sound mesmerised the attentive audience, and as his set continued he was able to build a powerhouse set with a strong, belting falsetto and the accompaniment to match. His song, On A Slow Boat To China, managed to create a unique musical journey as the vibrant hum of the melody, sung by the choir of voices in the club, followed us home that night.

Patrick James entered the stage quickly and quietly. His voice was soft and resonating to begin with; his music, simplistic yet profound. The audience gazed up in appreciation. With each song James showcased raw, incomparable talent, keeping voices hushed. As the set continued his stomping and rhythmic tunes created an outburst of clapping and joyous grins. He spoke with shy confidence as he recalled the meaning of his songs and remembered feelings, creating a window of opportunity for the audience to fill in the blanks. His voice flowed out velvety and effortless as he changed the tone of his set, playing the piano for a tune from his upcoming album called Make Me Stronger. As he flowed into Bugs, the catchy lyrics confirmed his astonishing ability as a songwriter. California Song made for the perfect road trip song; we sang it all the way home.