Seasick Steve at the Carling Academy, Newcastle, 30th January, 2008.

Due to punctuality, traffic and parking problems, I ended up missing the support acts. But in all fairness, there was only ever one person that everybody had crammed in to see this evening. When Seasick Steve climbed up on the stage via the front row of the Academy he instantly had the adoring Newcastle crowd in the palm of his hand.

Over the past year or so, Seasick Steve has managed to build up a loyal and enthusiastic following across the UK, evident with his dates last year at the Cluny and The Sage, culminating in this show at the Academy.

Throughout the show, Steve introduces his songs and his instruments in a way that is alien to today’s modern rockstars. Part of his unmistakable appeal is the lack of a barrier between him and his audience, his everyman charm allows us to all associate with him. Fair enough, we might not have all been put in jail for vagrancy, or had a dog that took all of our food and ran out on us, but somehow we can all connect to his stories as if he’s an old friend from the streets, making us laugh or leaving a lump in our throats.

With sing-along stompers like Cut My Wings, Fallen Off A Rock and most notably Things Go Up, Seasick Steve ensures his gigs are an amazing experience. Rather than prancing about in a cardigan and scarf, Steve takes time between songs to stagger to the front of the stage in his trademark dungarees and oily cap to shake hands with people in the front row and even bring one fan up on stage to serenade with his brand of blues. Don’t miss Seasick Steve the next time he comes to Newcastle, you won’t regret it. The man is a one off.



Originally published on the official NARC. website. You can also get more information on NARC. magazine, including outlets, at their MySpace.