Joseph Arthurs show at the Troubadour poised itself to be an intimate experience, with chairs setup in the small venue for a special solo performance. Sauntering onstage with his trademark aviator shades, Arthur sat down to deliver soaring harmonica accompanying his angst-filled, gritty voice. Shortly into the set list, he rejected recumbence and stood up saying, I dont know about you, but Im standing up. Shows are always more rocking if everybodys standing. Which rang true as the crowd willingly obliged and grew more engaged.
The pitch of Arthurs vibrato poignantly reverberated through the house, occasionally breaking into a falsetto that cut into the soul and evoked empathy – impressive for a man with such a deep speaking voice. Layered sequences from his guitar were anchored by brooding lyrical vignettes of love: I found myself a hiding place/Ive been uncomfortable looking in your eyes/They always see right through my face. Amidst the candid performance, tracks like, A Smile That Explodes, King of the Pavement, Mexican Army, and Redemptions Son satiated requests shouted by a few grating audience members.
The artist exuded Ryan Adams reflection, Mick Jaggers growls, and Bob Dylans cool disregard. Blowing his harmonica with affectionate labor and picking at the guitar with skillful precision, Joseph Arthurs alluring musicianship is anticipated to carry through on his upcoming release, Temporary People.
Yielding to the wild spirit of the Troubadour, Arthur returned for a five-song encore, ending out the show with such vulnerable tracks as Favorite Girl and In The Sun. Offering to meet the crowd afterward, the artist ambled offstage and left behind his guitar, laid on the ground, next to a thick songbook chronicling over ten years of heartache.
