Blunt's incisive tunes play on hearts and minds

Blunt's incisive tunes play on hearts and minds
Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA
By BILL WHITE. When James Blunt, British soldier turned balladeer, released "Back to Bedlam" last October, he was a fledgling under Elton John's wing. ...
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By BILL WHITE

SPECIAL TO THE P-I

When James Blunt, British soldier turned balladeer, released
"Back to Bedlam" last October, he was a fledgling under Elton John's wing.
Monday night he proved that he could fly on his own. Fans packed the Paramount
to welcome him into their hearts and minds, and he ruled both the emotions and
intellect with an 80-minute concert that left tears on the theater's
seats. Clean-shaven and dressed in denim, Blunt opened with the sprightly
"Breathe," an outtake that was available for downloading on iTunes for a short
time. He laced a few other obscurities into his 15-song set, including the
chilling "Same Mistake," a heartbreaking song about a soldier on the brink of
suicide, in which he sings, "I'm not calling for a second chance / I'm screaming
at the top of my voice."

America could use some soldiers like James Blunt to come home
from the war singing thoughtful songs like this, as well as "No Bravery," which
he performed at the piano while news footage from the 1999 Kosovo conflict was
projected on a screen.

Politics is never far from Blunt's world, even at his most
romantic moments, as in the evening's showstopper, "Goodbye, My Lover." He does
not specify why he is saying goodbye to this lifetime lover and friend, but
there is some inference that he may be going to his death.

"If you listen to the words, you'll get how miserable it really
is," he said in introduction to the song, which elicited screams between the
lyrics that were more than adoration. They were a necessary emotional release
for an audience moved beyond endurance to contain the feelings unleashed in them
by the song's passion.

Blunt was backed by an excellent quartet with a clean and
dynamic sound. All the musicians got a good workout on the final song, "So Long,
Jimmy," which featured ace guitar and organ solos before climaxing in crashes of
cymbals. They returned to encore with a cover of the Pixies' "Where Is My Mind"
and "You're Beautiful," Blunt's hit single.

The two openers were well chosen. Sierra Swan displayed the
melodic feel of a '70s-era adult pop singer. Her rich, husky voice was
accompanied by an unusual blend of piano, guitar and cello. The energetic Boy
Least Likely To filled the stage with British wit and nonsense. Although their
vocals often were buried in the mix, it was easy to see where they were coming
from with titles such as "I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes."

Bill White is a Seattle-based arts and entertainment writer. He
can be reached at Bwhi61@hotmail.com