Jez Lowe accompanying himself with guitar, harmonica, bouzouki, and mandolin. Open mike of four local musicians opened the show.

Jez played guitar on most songs; when he played a different instrument I have noted it

Will of the People - Taking On Men - Pitmen Poets - Bother at the Hoppins (bouzouki) - The Bergen - The Wrong Bus (mandolin) - Fan Dancer's Daughter - Hands Feet ... interval ... This Is Not My Tribe - The Ex-Pitmen's Pot-Holing Pub Quiz Team - Jesse Owen's Shoes - Brittania {new song; title might be "I Want To Be Alone"} (mandolin) - London Danny - Back In Durham Gaol (bouzouki, harmonica) - The Man Whose Life Just Wouldn't End {new song; not sure of title} - Black Diamonds ... encore ... The Honest Working Way

Setlist also available at setlist.fm

Taking On Men - banter, then song starts at :45

Bother At the Hoppins - banter, then song starts 2:10

The Wrong Bus - banter, then song starts 1:40

I have seen Jez Lowe a few times in the past few years on a co-bill with other musicians, but it was better seeing him by himself. He is not just a very skilled songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, but he is both witty and profound as an entertainer. It is my opinion that he is the world's best current day singer-songwriter in the classic folk tradition. He has excellent pacing as a live performer, seamlessly moving from a lovely, sad lament ("The Bergen") to a lively, fun song about life in his home area of northeast England ("Bother at the Hoppins") to a touching story song ("Fan Dancer's Daughter") to a humorous song about the First World War ("The Wrong Bus").

Each song is opened with an informative and often amusing introduction that either explains what the song is about or gives it some context. For instance, he explained that he was asked to write a humorous song based in the First World War as part of a musical series he was participating in, thus "The Wrong Bus," and explained that he wrote "The Bergen" after seeing a memorial dedicated to the sailors who lost their lives in that maritime disaster. For "London Danny" he made a maudlin sad face when quoting the somewhat overly sentimental lyrics, "don't take her from me, London Danny." Jez played a crowd-pleasing selection of his well known songs of the past ("Black Diamonds," "Durham Gaol"), to newer, lesser known songs, and a couple of brand new, unrecorded numbers. He has a really great range of facial expressions and I am sure would have been a great actor, if that had been his calling instead of music. He also has a "look" -- you'll never see him on stage without his stripes. He played guitar on most songs, mixing in a few numbers on bouzouki (an oval shaped instrument with a higher-pitched tone) and mandolin.

Many of Jez's songs have a feel of being an old folk song, because they are so universal in scope. He doesn't talk much about himself or his personal life in his music, choosing instead to write from a broader perspective.

Jez took an intermission (he'd call it an interval) during which time I purchased a copy of his brand new novel called "The Dillen Doll" and accompanying CD.

The evening was opened by a half hour open mike that was very enjoyable. About four different performers entertained on guitar, piano, and ukulele, and they were all very good. The highlight was a ukulele version of "Big Yellow Taxi" that referenced the youth climate marches taking place around the world.

This was my first visit to the Coffeehouse Off the Square at the Old Ship Parish House in Hingham, MA. There was plenty of parking, folding seats for the audience, and coffee and sweets for sale, as befits a Unitarian folk coffeehouse. It was a comfortable and welcoming place to see a show. Their schedule shows that they have a season full of topnotch performers coming up, and I hope to get to some other concerts there in the near future.

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