Tuesday 22/03/10 Frank Turner @ UEA, Norwich

Frank Turner’s music is all about reality. His blunt, witty lyrics are a breath of fresh air in a world of pretentious musicians who conceal ambiguous messages in flowery attempts at poetry. Whether it’s about being young, having ambition, finding purpose or just growing up, Frank’s music raises issue that are easy to relate to. His songs provide a chronicle of the life of the twenty-somethings, and the emotion with which he plays them is likely to strike a chord with even the most apathetic listener.

This is a fact that was demonstrated at the Norwich UEA last Tuesday in a set that had the audience passionately chanting along with every word. He kicked off the show with Photosynthesis, a bouncy song of Celtic merriment with the apt lyrics - “Now I’ll play, and you sing – the perfect way for the evening to begin”.

Assistance from Frank’s supporting band on the heavier songs reminded us of his punk roots, whereas occasional cameos from the evening’s two supporting acts, Crazy Arm and Chuck Ragan, brought variety to the mix. In between songs, he exuded a friendly, genuine and down-to-earth nature, bantering with the crowd to show just how comfortable he is on stage. Ever the entertainer, he even plucked an enthusiastic volunteer from the pit at one point to provide an impromptu (but surprisingly adept) harmonica solo during one of his songs.

He ended the gig with The Road, from his latest album, Poetry of the Deed. A song about life on the move, this was a fitting conclusion and the ideal prelude to the epic world tour he is about to embark upon. With gigs scheduled across Europe, America, Canada and Australia over the next few months, it appears that Frank Turner may finally be destined for the global success that his talent deserves.