Frank Hamilton at Scala

Best known for his #OneSongaWeek project back in 2012, Frank Hamilton is on tour again promoting his new album Songs to Make Life Slightly Less Awkward. Delayed from his original tour date in June, the crowd have eagerly awaited this gig for some months. Filled with young and old alike, the turnout is a testament to the musician’s broad appeal.

Warmed up and joined by an eclectic group of fellow singer-songwriters, the stage is set for a heart-warming Christmas-themed evening. The party decorations are out, the walls decked with festive props and heads with Santa hats. In all honesty it feels more like a group of friends and family getting together for a drink than a gig per se. Combined with Hamilton’s offbeat comedy between numbers and his earnest performance it all makes for a fun and light-hearted concert, if not the most musically powerful.

As he starts off on his 20-song repertoire, the London-based singer is joined at various intervals by his accompanying band, who can’t be faulted. Hamilton and co keep the mood swinging from highs and lows, much like life itself. From the new album, Saturday Night and 21C get the crowd singing along, while his topical 10 Days makes a pertinent joke about dealing with the fallout of Theresa May. However, as with many of his tunes, while they are pleasant enough and may well grow with time, they don’t leave all that much lasting effect. Each track blends nicely into the next, and the melodies are diverse enough to not sound stale, but they lack much depth or impact.

Saying that, the most intimate performance comes from his ascension to the balcony area where he sings Thinking Back with just a guitar and the full effect of his personality. Lyrically, his songs roll from the mouth, their intonation and rhythm calling on the likes of Ed Sheeran with whom he has worked before. But Frank Hamilton has his own style and it sings true; the lilting compositions ebbing and flowing with the all-too-real life scenarios. It may be quite a simple setup, but it’s a pleasant one.

Alex Corona
Photos: Guifre de Peray

For further information about Frank Hamilton and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Saturday Night here: