Gig review: JOSH TAERK – O2 Islington Academy, 5 June 2015

JOSH TAERK - O2 Islington Academy, 5 June 2015

Canadian singer/songwriter Josh Taerk was playing last of three London gigs tied in to promote his upcoming new album ‘Here’s To Change’. Joining him were guitarist Teddy Morgan (who produced the new album and is also in Kevin Costner’s band), drummer Richard Medek and Carl Holt on bass.

It was only a short set, just over half an hour, and like the previous gigs it was being streamed live. An excellent idea for an up and coming artist as often fans are all over the world and many cannot get along to gigs.

Starting the set with ‘The Mirror’ of his new album, was a good choice and all bar one song of his six song set were off the new album. The exception was ‘Casie’ from his debut album and still one of his best songs to date in my humble opinion.

Despite the bass player being drafted in for the live dates, the band’s sound was very tight and Josh kept the onstage banter to a minimum due to time constraints. ‘After The Fall’ and the title track off the new album both sounded good live. Shame he couldn’t have a longer time to play in order to fit in a couple more of the new album like the excellent ‘Me Myself & I’ or ‘Stay’.

Josh is an emerging talent, onto his second album and he is only 24, yet if you like the music of Bruce Springsteen and catchy rock that is easy on the ear, he is one to keep an eye on.

He shows he can perform just as well live as on record. Hopefully his tireless gigging of the UK will pay dividends for him and go see live when he returns to these shores in the early autumn.

Setlist:
The Mirror/ Wise Man/ Casie/ Take A Chance With Me/ After The Fall/ Here’s To Change

Review by Jason Ritchie

Album review
Interview (June 2015)

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)