Dave McPherson gave a strong performance at Bishop Grosseteste’s Stag’s Head pub last week on Tuesday, September 30th.
The InMe frontman played a diverse range of songs taken from his solo work and InMe’s back catalogue, along with various covers. Although the crowd was small – with some 50 fans in attendance – the atmosphere by the end of the night was one of satisfied expectations.
Also playing the acoustic night were Matt Bonner, James Jezusek, Elliott Morris, and Marc Halls, who ably supported Dave.
The Stag’s Head is an inauspicious venue, but its size afforded fans the opportunity to meet and greet the artists
It was Bonner who opened the proceedings, and his soulful, laid-back style set the evening up well. The Brighton-based singer-songwriter’s set was short, but competently delivered and well received.
James Jezusek followed up equally capably with his more strident sound reminiscent of Frank Turner and Rise Against. Lyrically interesting, Jezusek is still developing, and the Lincoln-based artist is improving all the time and has an ever-expanding repertoire.
Organiser of the event and local star Elliott Morris put in his customary sterling performance, adding incredibly inventive covers of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Reuben’s “The Last Time” to his own catalogue. “A Matter Of Time” – taken from Morris’s latest EP of the same name – particularly impressed, as did “Half a Guy” and “Man On Wire”.
Marc Halls, front man of Essex hard rock outfit Fei Comodo, rounded off the support. His brand of acerbic folk immediately held the attention of the audience. Indeed, many of whom could be seen singing along to “A Simple Man” and “A Girl Called Melody” before his entertaining finale, a cover of Wheatus’s “Teenage Dirtbag”.
One would have thought that Dave McPherson would have become jaded with driving across the nation to play show after show in tiny pubs and bars, especially when InMe command decidedly larger venues, but that is simply not the case. In fact he is disarmingly amiable and his performance certainly reflected that, repeatedly exchanging banter with members of the audience.
Opening with “Glass White Flag”, McPherson confidently took to the stage. His relaxed, witty style accompanied with a mix of solo and InMe material make for an entertaining affair. Indeed, “Turbulence” and “All Terrain Vehicle” – taken from InMe’s latest offering “Herald Moth” – were certainly crowd pleasers, whilst the audience also reacted positively to “Before I Even Had You“, which will appear on McPherson’s upcoming album “The Hardship Diaries”.
The night was rounded off in a party atmosphere with a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “Cautioners”, while his rendition of Will Smith’s “Boom Shake The Room” prompted plenty of singing along. All in all, not bad for five pounds.