Reviews

Artists: Adrian Roye
Venue: 12 Bar
Town: London
Date: 9th November 2010
Website: www.adrianroyemusic.com

Going to see Adrian Roye & the Exiles was a bit like visiting a relative that you have not seen for a bit; you think it has only been a short while but soon you realise that a couple of Christmases have past and you have that kind of awkwardness from knowing that saying that you have been busy with work is a thin excuse.

I've seen Adrian play solo, I've seen him and Beth Darit (his now bass player) as a duo and as backing vocalists for AHAB and I have seen them both as members of the music collective Astic Borders but this was the first time that I'd seen him play with his exiles (Simon Lewis on cello and lead guitar and Dan Paton on drums as well as Beth Dariti on Bass) and I really regret all the gigs that I have missed.

AR&tE really are a class act, essentially a soul band (or, rather a soulful band) with folk and reggae edges to it they do seem a too polished for the 12 Bar; if such places still exist they I'd think them better suited to a candle lit basement jazz club in Soho proper.

'The Only Poster Child' is treated like the single that it is, but the aching "Whatcha gonna do with my heart" (which must surely worthy of national radio play) is the highlight of the evening - albeit followed closely by Dariti's glorious mandolin on their cover of Springsteen's 'My Home Town'.

This will not be the last time I see AR&tE.

The Jacket