Having gigged around London last year, including a headline show at Jazz Cafe and a supporting slot for Melanie Fiona at the Luminaire last month, Stevenage hailing UK soul newcomer Nathan Watson provides an introduction to his music with his new EP Student Of Life, featuring four tracks and two mixes/remixes of his debut single ‘Reach Out (You've Got A Friend).’
‘Twas a cold December night and my mission was to observe some soul music in the form of Melanie Fiona supported by Nathan Watson in the cosy (and warm) venue The Luminaire, Kilburn.
Nathan Watson was first to take the stage and hit us with some of his original material, the Curtis Mayfield inspired ‘Watz Goin’ On,’ ‘Soulsisticated,’ and ‘Somebody Help Me.’ His music bounced between being super funky and super smooth. ‘Leave Me Alone’ was a sort of old country/blues/soul mix, in the same vein as ‘Sweet Home Alabama.’
Watson also played his forthcoming single ‘Reach Out’ and at times reminded me of Finlay Quaye. He closed with a few covers, an uptempo and funkier version of ‘Ordinary People,’ ‘Superstition’ and ‘I Want To Take You Higher.’ All this soul funk left the crowd salivating for the headline act.
Miss Fiona burst on stage with a whole load of energy, attitude and a hat covering her eyes to the track ‘Ay Yo’ from her album The Bridge.
Nathan Watson took to the Jazz Cafe stage last Wednesday stage with boyish style, rocking a Jimi Hendrix t-shirt combined with the iconic '60s Hendrix jacket, an afro reminiscent of Maxwell's Now phase and a band composed with similar Motown funk/rock soul retro appeal.
I was confused for a second and didn't know what to expect from such a visual rainbow of black music triggers (Nathan and guitarist have enough hair to weave both Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan's heads). However, as soon as the soul man opened his mouth, he captured our attention with a swooping high falsetto asking us repeatedly: "Are you ready? Jazz Café, are you ready?"