Flynn Tastic

So this must be about the 8th time I've seen Johnny Flynn perform, and not a bit of me is any less excited than the first time I saw him and his band The Sussex Wit in a tiny tent at Glastonbury about three years ago.

I arrive at Shepherd's Bush Empire late thanks to the gloriousness that is London Transport. I speedily run in to find the venue pretty empty in side. The first band Melody Melodica and Me rapidly arrive on stage to perform half an hour of dreary repetetive songs much to my disappointement as I had heard good things. Quick break, new drink, change of shoes...next band arrive. A blonde canadian going by the name of Basia Bulat, heads to the stage with a guitar and starts to play a Joni Mitchell inspired folk song which only left me and others around in fits of laughter as her voice became more and more shrill. Christ, I thought, half an hour of this is gonna leave me exhausted. But then her band come on and together they perform a set of classic girl with guitar folk songs before heading off. It was now half nine, and personally I couldn't wait for Johnny Flynn, the build up had been a slight let down to say the least.

Johnny, as reedily handsome as his voice and the scratch of his fiddle, heads on stage shortly after in to the mystical set of the stage which created a calm, intimate feeling with the purple lights, backdrop of brown autumn leaves and smoky haze around the band members. Perfect. They start the set with 'Lost and Found’, a slow picky guitar song from his new album; followed by 'Kentucky Pill'. Oh my, a wonderful start to the show. More well known songs (well to fans anyway) are played before Johnny introduces his sister Lilly Flynn to the audience who comes on apologising for being late. He then performs songs, old and new, now with the harmonising of Lilly accompanying his unfaultering echoey voice. Lilly then disappers and Johnny introduces none other than Laura Marling who comes on to perform 'The Water'.  The crowd was silent, intently watching in awe. The band then liven the audience up again with classics such as 'The Box' and 'Leftovers'. Throughout the performance, the band members are changing instruments, constantly swapping around. After an hours worth of this, they head off for the encore. The crowd cheers, and they’re back on. Johnny reapperas smiling; 'did we do that right?' he jokes. 'Eyeless in Holloway' is up next, one of my favourites. Each band member is introduced and Johnny thanks the audience gracefully. The last song. The familiar sound of the bass starts and 'Tickle Me Pink' is performed, the whole audienced joining in, in some sort of wild ho-down. Then its all over. The crowd make their way to the entrance excitedly chatting and discussing and singing. The look on everyone's faces tells all. What an amazing performance. Good old Johnny, he never lets us down.