Jack Garratt– Oslo, London

(July 22, 2014)

If you’re a fan of the talented Alex Vargas, then you’ll sure to be a fan of Jack Garratt. They have slightly different vocal ranges and musical styles, but are both are some of London’s finest. They also just HAPPEN to be roommates and very good buddies. Having played with few jazz/funk bands before flying solo, Jack Garratt threads alot soul and funk into his ambient melodies, and it’s a bit tricky to describe his genre. Delicate keys, soulful vocals, rippling beats, and funky guitar…all served up fresh by this multi-taleneted (hilarious and humble) BEARDY BRO.  I remember Alex Vargas specifically telling me that I had to check Jack out at Communion’s Bushstock, and since I missed his performance because of a clashing artist, I figured I would have to catch him at his sold out EP (‘Remnants‘) release  gig at The Waiting Room. Funny enough, Jack gave a shout-out to Alex, telling the crowd that he felt like greeting them the same way that his buddy (Alex) did at his Lexington gig a few months back: “What the hell is everyone DOING HERE?!” Jack kicked off the set with his EP’s title track, Remants, and I enjoyed watching him first ATTACK THE BASE at 15 sec in, and then smooth it out with delicate chords right after: “Let me be something you use up for one night…Burn the remnants of my youth.”  Next up was Water, which happens to be one of my favorites. I love the quivering, trippy sounds at the beginning, followed by the wobble base FLOODING IN (perfect timing) when Jack sings “Drown me in the water…Drown me in the sea…Let your water, wash over me.” Right after Water, Jack panics because he realizes that he did not have his Macbook charger up on stage with him, and he would need it for his next fews songs. At first he joked that “everyone could go home now,” but then soon begged someone help him find his charger. While Jack was waiting for one of his buddies to save the day, he added levity to the situation by teasing himself and saying things like, “If I look down, you are all NOT HERE.” Haha.

Armed with the Macbook charger, Jack continued on with set, playing three songs that are not yet released or on his EP: Youth, a cover (whose name I’m not sure), and Grow Older. I remember really liking the Grow Older song, and I hope he releases it as a single soon. He followed these songs up with I Wouldn’t Want You Anyway, the first track on his Remnants EP.  It’s a slow one, but the POWER OF HIS PIPES at 6 min in is sure to KEEP YOU AWAKE. His voice in this one reminds me a bit of Hozier, one of my favorite new artists of this year. Plus, the intro line is definitely one to entire: “Bad times are coming…And good friends are gone.”

Right before wrapping up his set, Jack thanks a good lot of people, including a music producer could came all the way from Denmark, as well as his parents, who “make it to almost every gig.” (I LOVE THAT.) After hearing his encore of Worry, I confidently say that Jack Garratt has nothing to WORRY about…A KILLER PERFORMANCE all around. Not only does this trak commence with a siiiiiiick opening line (“My nights are broken up by then sounds of women I’ll never meet…”), but it follows with a hot, cheeky jab that you can’t help get chills from: “You came around to say, that you’ve been away, like I hadn’t known… As if I haven’t felt your breathe in every step when the wind blows.” Then, all of this tension and “worry” brewing in the first 4 min just suddenly EXPLODES, and Jack cuts all hell loose on his electric guitar. “DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT IT…” He definitely unleashes the beast on this one, and you can definitely see how he used to be ripping in jazz/funk band before this.

A week later, I had the fortune of seeing Jack again because he happened to be opening (3 nights in a row) for The Temper Trap, for which I already had tickets. I was able to get some great videos from this gig (see below), even those I was a bit close to the speakers. I suggest that everyone check out his debut EP (‘Remnant’s) and see him whenever he rolls into your town. He’s sure to leave memorable REMNANTS that will leave you wanting MORE. x

VIDEOS:

Remnants:

I Couldn’t Want You Anyway: [e/bed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lSQkVAePTk[/embed]

Worry:

PICTURES:

Jack Garratt– The Waiting Room, London

(July 16, 2014)

PICTURES: