Charley Crockett graced London with his music last night in London’s Hoxton Hall. One of three dates billed as an intimate evening with the man himself. It’s a strange little venue which has roots in being a Music Hall, with two upper balconies so that the audience can get an ariel view of the act they have come to see.

Having arrived early to ensure that I got a place at the barrier (there is no barrier just a very high stage) I was greeted by his grumpy management (social skills were not their forte). Security staff were overwhelmed by the amount of fans that had arrived ‘I’ve been working here three years and I’ve never seen a line this big’. Once inside the machines being used to scan tickets didn’t work (not their fault apparently they hadn’t been given the right code).

The merch on sale was cool with prices to match (especially if you wanted to buy the autographed vinyl or tour poster). Then entering the main hall you got the sense of history of the place with it’s wooden panelling and balustrades.

Then Charley came on stage and the audience erupted with whoops and whistles. It was so satisfying seeing Charley where he belongs on stage. I’m not sure if it was nerves or jetlag or a combination of both but the first few songs felt rushed and at times Charley started songs and abandoned them when he felt he hadn’t got them right or couldn’t remember the words. At one point he said to the crowd that he’d been ‘relying on the Blue Drifter’s too much’ and apologised for his guitar being out of tune ‘Usually it wouldn’t matter as you cant here it with the whole band’.

The show came to a complete stop when a fan collapsed due to heat Charley had to come to the microphone and said ‘Even in the USA we would get someone to help the lady out’, security did eventually come but it was the fans around her who helped her with water. Afterwards Charley did hope she was well. The break seemed to have given Charley a second breath and he came back more energised.

Charley opened with ‘Are We Lonesome Yet’ and went through his extensive back catalogue with songs such as ‘The Valley’, Of The Cottonwood Trees’, and other classics like ‘Black Jack Country Chain’, ‘Juanita’, ‘Odessa’, ‘July Jackson’, ‘Night Rider’ and ‘5 More Miles’.

Overall Charley gave a mesmerising performance which was worth the price of admission. There were flashes of excellence, an energy that connected the artist to this London audience and flowed back onto the stage.