Paolo Nutini
The Oasis Leisure Centre, Swindon
April 22nd 2007


If the power of the press is to be believed, then Paolo Nutini would have no fans left in  Swindon, as its local paper declared that countless people walked out of the singer’s show last Sunday, both distraught and disgusted at Nutini’s drunkenness!  Well I was there (writing on behalf of this publication) and nothing could be further from the truth.  There were just as many people in attendance at the end, as there were at the beginning (twas packed in fact).

That said, there was something clearly awry with Paolo’s performance - this being evident from the moment the young Scottish singer walked (rather than ran) onto the deep-blue-drenched stage to the thundering, yet beguiling sound of Rocky; only to kick-off his set with a rather conservative and nigh sedate rendition of ‘Alloway Grove.’   Was this something of an intentional Nutini juxtaposition (try saying that with a mouthful of Crunchie!) or nothing more than a simple (for which read, calculated) twist of endemic fate?  

After all, Nutini ain’t no Stallone (and hopefully, never shall the twain musically meet).

What transpired was the inevitable run-through of Nutini’s debut album These Streets, a Moby cover and two new songs amid an atmosphere akin to that of a first date - all pregnant pauses and polite proposition: ‘’thank you for being so kind.’  One of the new songs, ‘This World Will Never Change, along with the ever so poignant  ‘Last Request,’ were the only highlights of the evening.  Reason being, Nutini (finally) connected with his audience; not even the set’s closing number and arguably strongest song off the album, ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty,’ came close.

By the time of the encore however, a first-date, first-kiss was inevitable, and it came in the form of (wait for it…) ‘The Bare Necessities’ - ye olde Jungle Book cover, immediately followed by Nutini’s innocuous (and self-explanatory) new single, ‘Funky Cigarette.’  

So depending on how you take yer slap’n’tickle – a second date may yet be on the cards.