Jamie Hill heads to the backroom at The Vic in Old Town to check out The Erin Bardwell Trio at a special covid-safe gig.
I've seen Erin Bardwell perform in several incarnations over the years. The veteran performer never fails to disappoint and after an 18-month covid-enforced break it was great to catch up with his latest offering at a gig on Thursday night at the Vic in Swindon.
Playing it covid-safe, Erin had to make the decision to not pack out the stage with his collective but as a pared back socially distanced trio.
This meant we were left with Erin himself on keys and vocals, as well as a percussionist and a horn/trumpet player.
And the sound was glorious. A heady mix of reggae/ska covers and originals forming a soundscape that enveloped the attentive audience.
For me, and probably most of the seated crowed, it was just lovely being back at a gig again after the past twelve months of pandemic shenanigans.
Being seated and not being allowed to get up and dance, if the music merited, made for a bit of a different ambience than my usual visits to The Vic, but it also gave Erin's gig a more intimate appeal, akin to a lounge bar, but swapping out jazz for ethereal chilled ska reggae numbers.
After not gigging for 18 months, there were a few shaky notes here and there at the start, as the band settled into their groove but each bum note was met with a wry smile by Erin.
But they found their feet soon enough, and as they found their rhythm so did the audience, who were taken on a journey through some pretty lovely ska classics as well as Erin-penned originals.
There's just something fantastic about watching three experienced performers, playing their hearts out with passion exuding from every pore.
By the end of the set, there was not a single audience member without a smile on their face. And that's what it's all about when it comes down to it.
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