This is the first year of the brand spanking new Chesham Fringe Festival, and watfordfringereviews.blogspot.com is delighted to be there in support, creating a space to kick off the conversation about the dizzying array of creative fare on offer!
My second show to see was psychedelic pop pioneer Jordan Nash performing a selection of his original songs at The Drawingroom, a cosy, eccentric venue which is part bar, part cafe, part art gallery... a bohemian vibe perfectly suited to Nash's laid back, mellow melodies.
The gig was outdoors and benefitted hugely from the glorious weather, with saturated Nash's chilled out vibes in the golden glow of summer, the perfect accompaniment for his beach-ready tunes. Dressed in white T shirt, ripped jeans and wide sunglasses, he wouldn't have looked out of place on the American West Coast, and many of his songs reflected similar themes. In Ocean, his opening song, he sang of 'living the dream of being a rock star, smoking and weed and driving fast cars', while in later tracks he quipped he's 'made a bit of money, now I'm covered in gold' and 'the worst things in life come free'. Youthful observations that, while timeless, chime especially with the Insta generation.
His guitarist Mopher was splendid, grinning raffishly and lounging idly at the side of the stage, but filling the air with precise, clear accompaniment that allowed each of Nash's songs to cut through the buzz of the day. As an outdoor gig, they were battling with the sounds of the DJ in Market Square, but after five minutes in their hands the dancing rhythms of the street were entirely forgotten and we were in residents of chill-ville. Amazingly they'd only met a week prior; the groove they captured together felt far more long established.
Nash generously shared some space for another local performer Angelica Evening, which enhanced the community-focused feel of the gig. There was lots of support from his local family and fans, and while he opened with a song he said made him feel super vulnerable to get rid off the nerves, he closed with a number he'd written only a few weeks earlier, letting us into the challenge of remembering fresh lyrics and deciding key changes.
Thus was a supremely delightful gig for a summer evening. If he's back next year with another set he ought to be one of the hottest tickets in town.
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