Jamie T @ Troubadour, 9/26/07

Jamie T brought his unique style of Brit-hop slash folk punk to West Hollywood’s Troubadour. Listening to his likable debut album Panic Prevention is a revelation of how far the lines can be blurred between genres. Hints of Alex Turner and Mike Skinner can be found in the lyricism. Jamie T’s performance was also full of the defiant attitude contained on the album. He walked out into the crowd several times. At one point he knocked off the stage an English flag that a few well-meaning expats had brought to the show. In keeping with this rebellious spirit he played a cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” at the start of the encore. Both the band and Jamie did not fare as well musically as the recordings however. Some numbers like “Brand New Bass Guitar” get stranded acapella mid-song, when they sound much better with the album’s jangly guitar bits. What am I driving at? Guess I’m saying go and listen to the album. It’s heavy.