The first thing that surprises some people who have been dragged along to Aidan Knight’s free show at the Sebright Arms this evening, is that Aidan Knight is not one person, but five…
They’re a five-piece hailing from Canada who prove to be an enthusiastic outfit playing gorgeous, heartfelt music.
Take for instance ‘A Mirror’, a song filled with twanging, nostalgic sounding guitars and wonderfully poetic lyrics. It’s a song that many would play in such a mundane manner but Aidan Knight, somehow capture the hearts of nearly everyone in the audience.
They play so cohesively that you notice that the whole band are passionate about what they are playing and it doesn’t become a disjointed, clunky attempt to connect emotionally with the audience. This is arguably where the strength of tonight lies: Aidan Knight’s music is impressive because of his constantly impressive ability to tell stories. yet none of the band’s ability to tell these stories masterfully on record is lost on stage.
That’s not to say that every single song is a subtle and slow affair either. Songs such as ‘You Will See The Good In Everyone‘ have faster-paced drumbeats and stronger guitar riffs which show off their more powerful side.
No, they’re certainly not the most commanding band around sonically, but their ability to tell stories convincingly and to create emotive, stirring music is a rare gift.