Support: Katy Hurt
Back in January Canadian Guitarist Arial Posen released his eagerly anticipated debut album “How Long” to wide acclaim from press and public alike. Compared in the press to Springsteen and receiving rave reviews for his guitar chops and his soulful smoky voice, Ariel is clearly the man of the moment. Since mid-February he has been touring the length and breadth of the UK on a 13-night tour, and I was eager to catch him at the Borderline and finding out what all the buzz was about.
Ariel, along with band mates Eion Walsh (bass) and Davie Ryan (drums), take to the stage in front of a near-capacity crowd and, without preamble, launch into “Try”. Straight away, I understand what all the fuss is about. Winnipeg-born and world-travelled Ariel has a smooth voice, a nice tone, and those wicked guitar chops. Second song is Lenny Kravitz’s “SisterMotherLover” with its heavy, slow opening riff and a chance for Ariel to show off his ability to make that guitar sing, weep and talk, earning a mighty cheer from the very appreciative audience. “I’m Gone” follows with its choppy staccato guitar as the band settle into their groove, and we are treated to a couple more from the album, “Things that I Said” and title track “How Long”, before the pace changes slightly on Ariel’s favourite Billy Preston song “Nothing from Nothing”, all funky guitars and Bass riffs before settling into a jazz groove with extended solos from Ariel and Eion making this a very long song indeed. After “Nobody Else” And “I’ll be Finding You” it’s back to the album tracks for the last few numbers. Ariel admits that the album is full of sad songs, and “Get You back” is a prime example, a slow doom-laden guitar and broken-hearted lyrics. “Can’t Stop Thinking About You”, the only happy song on the album apparently, is a little more upbeat but continues the theme of love lost and broken hearts.
YouTube Video – Ariel Posen “Can’t Stop Thinking about You”
This theme continues in the closing tracks “Better Late than Never” a true slow burner of a song and set-closer “Fade”. The encore is a version of John Martyn’s Angeline, which Ariel dedicates to his wife.
Throughout the Performance, the Bass was consistently bright and crisp, and the drums drove the songs along, but I felt that something was lacking. I must be honest here, I like my music to sink its teeth into my soul and its claws into my spine, and this performance did not touch me in that way. There is no denying that Ariel Posen is a talented, nay, phenomenal guitarist and a fine singer/songwriter. He builds an easy rapport with the crowd, and judging by the Merch desk queue, where he was more than happy to pose for pictures and sign CDs, he is very popular and well liked artist, but for me the show lacked that killer song, the one that gets everyone’s hands in the air and feet off the floor and send them home smiling.
Ariel Posen: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | iTunes
Supporting Ariel, and opening the show was UK-born Country singer/songwriter Katy Hurt. Reading of her achievements in a relatively short career – iTunes UK Country Chart No 1 Single , iTunes Worldwide Country Chart top 20 single, British Country Music awards nomination for Horizon act of the year – this is a young lady that is going places. Fast!
*Originally Posted in Patchchord News
Dubbel Xposure Photography 