Sunday 07/10/07 Jack Penate @ The Old Market, Hove

With his debut album’s release only hours away, Jack Penate looks nervous as he meanders onstage hid beneath a hoodie. Soon though, fuelled by the screams of an adoring crowd, pure adrenaline releases the born performer inside him. His anxiety shows as he races through ‘Spit at Stars’, often a centre-piece of his sets, to open the show. The tension, coupled with Jack’s own frenetic style, makes it seem over prematurely. Soon though, he is charming his way through anecdotes about “breaking in his new guitar” and throwing up last time he came to Brighton. Phew, he’s finally relaxing.

This is clear as he rumbles into a tumultuous rendition of ‘Got My Favourite.’ It includes an extended intro that burns away the image of Penate as a sensitive songwriter. The alteration of numerous tracks, while showing rapid musical progression, suggests he is tiring of them already. The readiness to rearrange and alter is as much for his own enjoyment as for the audiences. When performing his ballads, such as the sparkling delicacy of ‘My Yvonne,’ there is restlessness in the room that makes the arrangements seem even sparser. However, Penate’s voice proves emotive enough to resonate over the hubbub and deliver passable presentations. 

The songwriting contains an innocence that the setting exaggerates. The Old Market - complete with makeshift drinks desk - resembles a school disco, especially as it is brimming with excited teenagers. The shaky lyrical simplicity of ‘We Will Be Here,’ including “Embrace your sleeping sweetheart with hush/The words I love you mean so much,” manages to be poignant rather than mushy.