Powerful performers let down by soulless venue
Norwich is full of great music venues doing their utmost to promote and support the impressive and diverse array of young and old talent in the city while welcoming the best that the rest of the country has to offer. Sadly, Stage 2 at the Theatre Royal is not one of them.
On a Friday night when people are looking for gigs to go to and enjoy amid a glut of competition, one would think a venue would go above and beyond to grab as big an audience as possible and put on a show that would make performers and punters eager to return. Apparently not.
From the moment we arrived at Stage 2 at the back of the Theatre Royal, in Theatre Street, Norwich, for an eagerly awaited show by popular electro folk singer GECKO from London and local singer songwriter Lucy Grubb, the night became a battle for enjoyment. The limited advertising had said doors open at 7.30pm with music starting at 8pm but arriving at 7.45, after struggling to find someone to open the door and find our tickets, we discovered that Lucy had been on for 15 minutes – taking to the stage almost as the doors opened.
Lucy herself was a consummate professional, making the best of the situation while performing to an audience still making their way into the venue. Fortunately, such is the strength of her songs and her performance, that one could forget the distractions of the venue while she was performing at least. Highlights included the title track to her forthcoming album ‘Worrying For Nothing’, new track ‘Find What You’re Looking For’, a wistful ode to friendship, and personal favourite ‘While It Lasted’ but every song is a gem from this impressive young woman. See her if you can and keep an ear out for her debut long player next year.
Bizarrely there is no bar in the Stage 2 venue itself so after a five-minute walk to the neighbouring Theatre Royal bar, it was time to go back again and again find someone to open the door.
It was worth the walk back as Gecko proved himself a unique talent and an enigmatic and entertaining performer, combining a passion for protesting about all that is wrong in the modern world with an ear for a tune, use of technology and a wicked sense of humour apparent throughout his interaction with the small but appreciative audience. Combining dance beats and electro sounds with traditional acoustic guitar and a varied vocal delivery that covers everything from rap to soulful folk, think Jamie T meets Beans On Toast but with a vaudevillian twist.
Gecko’s subject matter ranged from a very sad song about Laika, the Russian dog that went into space, honey badgers, the ‘Tooth Fairy’ and immigration on the topical ‘Rylan Is Claiming Asylum’ and ‘I’m A Grant’ which began as a song about EastEnders and changed into something far more relevant. There was social commentary on the modern obsession with smartphones in ‘Stare Into Your Hands’, Lord of The Rings impressions in Hobbiton, some delightful call and effect audience interplay on ‘Take A Look Around’ and a set closing tribute to the ‘Tamworth Two’ escaping pigs. All ahead of a pre-empted encore of ‘Guanabara Juice’, an upbeat anthem that celebrates Gecko’s love of his favourite fruit drink. And why not?
Gecko deserves a better stage and a bigger audience. Keep an eye out for him. He’s good.
Mark Taylor
Artist’s website: https://geckoofficial.com/
‘Laika’ – official video:
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