Review: Ghostpoet at Gullivers, Manchester

Photo: Ghostpoet

Three numbers in, Obaro Ejimiwe and his band harmonise to sing ‘‘I just want to live life and survive it”, poignant lyrics lifted off 2011 debut Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam. 

It's at that moment that the performance of Ghostpoet began to unveil itself as a welcome relief from the January war of attrition and the slow crawl towards payday.

Always uneasy onstage, the mood is lifted by his ramblings and admittance he thought he'd be playing to an empty room, while his flirtatious jibes at Southern gig-goers swiftly got everyone on his side.

In Manchester as part of a low key tour, it was a chance for the band to get to grips with their latest material and despite their being a few older tracks thrown in for good measure, it was the refined vocals and focused bass lines of the new songs which really impressed.

Latest single 'Off Peak Dreams' included (above), his latest work is seemingly inspired by the comparable stresses of breakups and moving house. He manages to marry the situation with an acuteness, executing it in a manner that has attracted obvious comparisons with Mike Skinner and Roots Manuva.

Midway through, 'Cash and Carry Home' see's a typically self deprecating Ejimiwe questioning why we're still enjoying such a "golden oldie" before trailing off and uttering something about his unusual song titles. 

For the 150 packed into Gullivers, the show’s Thursday - not quite Friday scheduling was a treat during a week that saw the north battered with brisk winds and stinging snowstorms.

It was surprising that the set was tighter than his show last year at Deaf Institute, and while his anxious commentaries have always been compelling, they lack a boldness the upcoming record promises.

Head here for more on Ghospoet. Follow Andrew Williams on Twitter.

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