Stylusboy – ‘Routes’ album launch.
by Pete Clemons
I have been aware of Stylusboy for at least 10 years. I first became aware of him when I saw him perform a gig at the Tin Angel when it was based in Spon Street. And over that time Stylusboy has produced a succession of quality songs and music.
Whether it be at Café’s or Pubs, Bookshops or Bistro’s he has played the lot. And I have tried to get to see him perform as often as I could. And throughout those many gigs he performed solo or as part of a duet.
For the release of his second album ‘Routes’, Stylusboy was going to step out of his comfort zone, by performing with a band. And, to my knowledge, this is the first time he has performed his music with a band. Although I do seem to remember a band at the Tin Arts Centre which he featured in.
The setting for this launch gig of ‘Routes’ was the unlikely surroundings of a coffee shop. But of course, this is no ordinary coffee shop.
Backhaus and Co. coffee shop is part of the Fargo village complex. It is situated on what I remember as a child as being Cooks warehouse. Cooks, amongst other things, sold carpets and was located on industrial estate off Gosford Street.
Parts of the fabric of the old warehouse still exists. The coffee shop is tucked away within that part of the old building. And the acoustics within the room were, surprisingly, very good.
Stylusboy mentioned to me beforehand that he had a touch of nerves. Months of planning and preparation had gone into the event, so I guess he was entitled to be. But if he was feeling a tad skittish it wasn’t at all visible as the gig got underway.
Despite it being Stylusboy’s evening he was surrounded by a strong team of experienced musicians. His band consisted of Wes Finch on guitar, Holly Hewitt – harmonies, John Parker on double bass and Tim Bowes – Drums.
For just over an hour they effortlessly breezed through songs from the new album. The single ‘Out Upon the Ocean’ along with ‘Embrace the View’, ‘Ride This Storm’, ‘Open the Door’ and ‘For the Souls of my Brothers’ along with many others, were among those that featured.
But the evening wasn’t totally devoted to ‘Routes’ as Stylusboy found time to revisit a few old faves such as ‘Lamplight’. And these were performed as they were conceived - without a band -who, for a few minutes, took a well-earned rest.
I asked Stylusboy where his inspiration for the Routes title came from: ‘Routes came from the fact a lot of the songs reference the idea of moving along a journey, maybe literally or through life. We all take different routes in life’.
I was also intrigued by the map of Coventry City centre presented on the physical CD: ‘The map came from the fact that a lot of the songs are inspired, directly or indirectly by Coventry. The map is old as you can’t copy a map unless it’s older than 50 years!’
It was a truly delightful and totally memorable evening. A lot of work and effort has gone into this album. Find more details about the album and other goodies on the link below. https://stylusboy.bandcamp.com/album/pre-order-campaign-for-my-new-album-routes?fbclid=IwAR1P_NzG5G43JPW1t9CJsockQg7FRrqCZ_nkWV9U1P1zef9Be4y3vUWjYXo
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