David Empey

I've wanted to hear Garnet Rogers live for some time, but circumstances have consistently conspired to prevent me from doing so until last night. Rogers plays an annual concert for the London Food Bank as part of the Acoustic Muse Concert Series promoted by Ian Davies. All I can say is... wow, Garnet is even better live than he is on CD - and that is saying a lot!

If you know his music, Rogers did include some favourites - notably "Small Victory" and "Night Drive" - and you have to hear the latter live to really appreciate it. He also played a few new songs, including one called "Junior" about George W. Bush. He described this one as "mean" and "petty", and he is right about that. But it is also entirely accurate.

Rogers mentioned that he is recording a live CD of mostly new material in the summer, though also said he would include a new version of "Night Drive". I don't know when it will be released, but get it for "Night Drive" alone. And Garnet, please, make sure "Junior" is on there!

I'm too lazy to write a longer, proper review. But there is one which appears to review more or less the same set here.