Gig Review: James Blunt - Leeds Arena

It is easy to knock James Blunt: his music comes across as inoffensive but in a live context he is a different proposition altogether.

His current tour has been on the road since January; the stage set is designed around the title of his last album and is entitled Moon Landing with him and the band arriving on stage dressed in boiler/space suits.

In a way he reminds me of this generation's Chris de Burgh - his music appeals to the same age group and he does share some of his mannerisms!

In between songs he sends himself up with his sense of humour, joking about his height (he is 5 feet and 7 Inches) and his posh accent. He is a likeable chap.

He opens up the gig with Face the Sun but it is not until Wisemen that the gig warms up. He swaps between piano and guitar throughout the gig, An unexpected version of the Slade hit Coz I Luv You, sounded fresh and is not the type of song you expect him to cover.

He might have been touring since January but he still had plenty of enthusiasm and energy.

Of course it is his big hit, You're Beautiful that gets the biggest response before he encores with Stay the Night, Bonfire Heart and 1973. His audience might be mainly female with husbands and boyfriends dragged along but looking at the smiling faces of both sexes leaving the arena everyone seemed to have enjoyed the gig.