Orlando Weeks, Gorilla. 11th March 2023

This gig feels like a long time coming. After some rescheduling and me having to miss previous outings, I’ve only ever caught Orlando Weeks for about 15 minutes on a festival slot. It’s time to rectify this in a rather cozy Gorilla tonight. I’m thankful for the body heat, it’s Baltic outside. We’ve also thankfully got the warmth of these songs to raise the temperature, but I’m glad I’ve got a coat with me. Orlando Weeks’ voice is an elixir isn’t it. It’s not always important to have a distinctive voice, but it sure doesn’t hurt. There’s no mistaking as the band take the stage, he takes the mic and those vocals soar. Almost literally lifting off with ‘None Too Tough’. It’s glorious. Despite the delicate nature of songs like ‘Blood Sugar’, the crowd look a bit awestruck. There’s a hidden punch though as the band unleash the full force and Weeks shadow boxes. He moves like he feels every note. It’s infectious to watch. We’re all asked to make a white noise “shhhh” sound to accompany ‘Milk Breath’. It’s not often you’re asked to shush a band but it is lovely. There’s a good mix of songs from the first two albums and a good smattering of new stuff too. ‘Look Who’s Talking Now’ is a sublime pop tune that gets everyone singing and dancing. Shaking off the outside cold, it’s mid summer in here. ‘Good To See You’ is a brilliant bouncy builder, it’s impossible not to get swept up and ‘Bigger’ really lives up to its name, with its harmonica that gets its own story in the introduction. Some gigs are just joyous. The stage is bathed in light for ‘Beautiful Place’ as the gentle saxophone notes melt with Weeks’ voice and everyone sways. It might be just Weeks’ name on the poster, but he’s one of five on the stage and the other four are just as brilliant. There’s some complex stuff going on in some of these songs and they’re rock solid and effortlessly cool in equal measure. The lad on guitar doesn’t look like the guitar hero type but fuck me can he play! Live these songs really come to life, given the space to play and build on the recorded counterparts. ‘Deep Down Way Out’ does feel like a set highlight. It’s a massive sound that still sounds oddly intimate, but truth be told the whole set is brilliant. The twisty epic ‘Safe In Sound’ brings us to a close as those who can bounce and the smiles beam from the stage. What a lovely gig and a lovely crowd. I don’t get to say that often enough.