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Photo: Becca Bryers
It’s hard to know what to expect when a fresh faced 24 year old Englishman arrives on the music scene and gains comparisons to such folk forebears as Nick Drake and Bob Dylan. You might find it easy to approach acts with such surrounding hype with a touch of cynicism, but with Johnny Flynn, the comparisons are rendered irrelevant: the music speaks to you in a way that only the real thing can.
Tonight the crowd were warmed up by Slam Dunk, also known as Big Detail and Shaking Muscles, amongst others – as they introduced themselves multiple times during their short set. The formula seems to be songs that start on simple, melodic guitar parts and build up to a stomp, with overtones of quirkiness. It works pretty well, and there are some nice harmonised vocal lines, but perhaps tires over the course of a whole set. Solo artist Josephine Oniyama, who has been on the tour for the past three dates, is next, arriving slightly late but launching into an acoustic based country romp. Josephine possesses a great voice that is at times truly beautiful. She’s obviously talented, perhaps let down a little by the limitations in sound of the acoustic guitar/vocal set up.
Johnny Flynn takes to the stage to set up the gear with his band The Sussex Wit, looking somewhat dazed. Sporting a slight black eye from a scrap in a club the night before in Leeds, he knocks over one of his carefully placed beers, almost reaching the possessions of fans at the front, who are within touching distance. When the band starts playing, it’s always a welcome surprise that he sings with a great voice that doesn’t really suit his appearance – the whole sound seems older, more weathered, more knowing, than the youthful exuberance of the band would suggest.
There’s little in the way of on-stage banter as Johnny barely mutters a word between the songs – he clearly prefers to do his communicating through the music. It is thoroughly enjoyable stuff. To keep things interesting there are a wide array of instruments on show – Johnny alternates between resonator guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, and trumpet as well as vocal duties. The rest of the band, listed on myspace as players of “various instruments” contribute to what is a very organic sound. There are three part harmonies, and at times drummer Matt plays guitar or keyboards, cellist Joe moves on to the drums, bassist Adam takes on some percussion and mandolin, and Johnny’s sister Lillie adds vocals and flute. The dynamic makes the band seem like a family, as they react to each other’s playing constantly, almost telepathically combining to create some truly unique music.
Highlights amongst the songs played were forthcoming single ‘Leftovers’, which has a stomping beat and a great lyrical take on things: “I’ve walked a mile just to catch a smile / from a fish without it’s brine.” The constantly building ‘Eyeless in Holloway’ kept the audience tapping along, and a really touching ‘Brown Trout Blues’ with some great trumpet playing from Johnny was heart wrenchingly emotional.
The great thing about the songs is that they only contain parts that are really needed. At times the band is completely mute, letting just Johnny and his guitar carry the tune along. It makes it all the more powerful when the various ingredients return to the mix. At other points, the members swap instruments to accommodate violin and organ sounds, which make every song unique and the whole performance compelling.
The audience response grew song by song until the band ended to a rapturous applause – it’s obvious that they’re going to gain fans the more they play. With a further tour lined up in March supporting Laura Marling, and their debut album coming out in May, it’s worth seeing Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit in intimate venues like Bunkers Hill before their popularity no longer allows it.
