Bryn Christopher, Soho Revue Bar, July 9th
Friday, 11 Jul 2008 10:45
Bryn Christopher, Soho Revue Bar, July 9th
If Bryn Christopher is at all fazed by the camera crew and music industry executives packed into the sweaty Soho Revue Bar, he hides it well. After all, this is a man who has supported Amy Winehouse and been touted as the 'next big thing' for British pop-cum-soul and who, according to his booking agent (who also represents Robbie Williams) "has a voice that will no doubt make him a legend".
As soon as he struts onto the small stage to join his four-piece band, it's easy to understand the reasoning behind such excitement. That Christopher possesses an impressive set of lungs and vocal range is immediately apparent, with his old-school soul sound appearing seeming somewhat incongruous with the mild-mannered 22-year-old Birmingham boy who engages with an enthusiastic crowd between songs. However, it is his effortless cool which sets him out from the glut of similar acts who are currently trying to ride the coat-tails of Winehouse, Ronson et al and, aside from a spot of the 'funky chicken' early on, he strolls around the stage with the ease of a man who was born to perform.
As for the songs themselves, it's also clear that Christopher can write just as well as he sings, with that uncanny knack of coming up with a chorus so instantly recognisable it's hard to believe that it's his own original material. Up-beat opener My World and his biggest song to date The Quest, which was made famous after appearing in TV show Grey's Anatomy, almost inevitably get the biggest reception, though, showcasing a brand new song in the encore, shows that he's not merely resting on his laurels but is in fact getting even better as a writer.
That said, for a set of just 45 minutes, a number of forgettable, not-so-good songs still make an appearance and his attempts to give a Marc Ronson-esque makeover of Portishead's Sour Times only half works.
However, as it's so easy to forget when hearing him, Christopher is only 22. It seems a safe bet, therefore, that, with the backing he has in place, his career is only going one way.
Indeed, it seems fair to suggest that he'll actually benefit from the bigger stage – and a proper brass section in place of just keyboards – rather than smaller venues where sets have to be kept to a minimum to make way for the drag queen night.
David Hewitt
To watch the video for The Quest, click here