Jack Savoretti at Shepherd’s Bush Empire

This is somewhat of a homecoming for Jack Savoretti, who talks about living and working around the corner from Shepherd’s Bush Empire. He certainly seems comfortable on stage for a man who almost gave up on music only four years ago. In fact, he seems beyond comfortable, more that he was born to perform. His passion is infectious as he manipulates the emotions with the gritty sincerity of both his voice and lyrics.

He assures us that the suggestively titled Tie Me Down has no relation to Fifty Shades of Grey, a question asked of him often. But from the first arresting utterance of that pleading line “tie me down”, there is a sense of the mutual trust demanded of a lover being offered to the audience.

Even when playing covers, Savoretti brings his raw sensuality to every song. He manages to make the iconic and much covered Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash sound unique and fresh. His interpretation of the lyrics seeps through in his voice, making them all the more personal as he lays himself open. He’s not only sharing his music but part of himself, as he states before playing Bob Dylan track Nobody ‘Cept You. He’s not just playing a song, he’s sharing his experience of listening to that song and what it meant to him, a song that by his own admission “saved his life”.

This makes it all sound rather bleak but it is a triumphant victory for an artist who nearly gave up on his passion – what a loss to music it would have been. On more upbeat tracks the whole audience is on their feet, their mesmerised smiles showing that, although it might be captivatingly coarse, his music is not morose. This can be seen in the resilience of Home, telling the story of the lonely man awaiting his beloved with “no regrets”. His belief is so strong that, although there is pain in his patience, he will continue to wait for his love, for “this feeling is real, I only know that now”. He asks that we explore feelings of loss, love and suffering, but that this is also a cathartic process. In turn the audience is brought to this place of peace with him.

Yassine Senghor
Photo: Paul Carless

For further information about Jack Savoretti and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Home here: