Daniel Champagne

My quest to see something different continues and so I went along to see Daniel Champagne at the Republic. The warm up act was Hannah May accompanied by a fellow on the keyboard. She was in the style of Norah Jones had some lovely or originals. Her set was a bit one paced and was in need of an upbeat song or a well known cover. Not too much new there.

I was hoping that Daniel would provide something a little different that would take my music

appreciation in a different direction. On the surface of it Daniel's music was to my usual taste, folksy and bluesy. However, what this guy can't do with a guitar isn't worth doing. Not only can he pick like no-one else, he uses his guitar as a percussive instrument and makes music that is unlike any other I have heard. He uses a range of alternative tunings and even changes tuning in the middle of songs. The percussiveness of this playing is beautiful in his version of Nirvana's 'Come as You Are'. He also does a version of Dire Strait's 'Fade to Black'. Whilst not as soulful as Mark Knopfler's version, the bluesiness of Daniel's version is what fills your soul.

Whilst his covers are cool and interesting, it is his originals where his music really comes to life. A new favorite of mine is his song 'The Nightingale'. This is a song about taking your chances, living live without regret and giving your heart and soul to everything you do. This is a sentiment that I can live by.

"When I told you I was afraid to fall, really I was afraid to fly."