Nashville’s Charles Esten returns to European shores in support of his new record, Love Ain’t Pretty. We were at the show in Salford.
By J. Walsh
There was a warm welcome at the Lyric Theatre at the Lowry, in Salford, for Nashville singer-songwriter Charles ‘Chip’ Esten. Esten is no stranger to the UK stage having played Buddy Holly in the stage musical Buddy in the early 90’s. Now, he is promoting his independently released debut album, Love Ain’t Pretty.
Although this is his first album he is not new to song writing. In 2017, Esten was presented with the Guinness World Records title for ‘most consecutive weeks to release an original digital single.’ For 54 weeks he wrote or co-wrote, recorded and released a new song for his #EverySingleFriday campaign.
Taking the stage, Charles Esten set the scene with the title track of the album. From the start it is clear that many in the audience are familiar with the new songs. Known to many as Deacon Claybourne, a musically talented but moody and troubled recovering alcoholic in the hit TV show Nashville, Charles Esten has continued to build his musical career. Since then, he has toured with the cast of Nashville.
LOVE AIN’T PRETTY
Now playing his own songs, Esten has a great talent for storytelling. There are some sad and some emotional but generally it seems he just wants to Make You Happy. Love Ain’t Pretty is followed by In A Bar Somewhere. Esten comments it should be ‘a pub somewhere’ whilst in the UK, taking a sip of his favourite whisky whilst joking that Deacon was an alcoholic however he is definitely not.
During the set, Esten, chats with warmth and humour, talks about the songs and engages skilfully with the audience. His songs, One Good Move, and the beautiful and melodic Candlelight are dedicated to his wife and manager, never far from his side.
With a nod to the great music that has come from Manchester, Esten leads the audience in singing Joy Division’s iconic Love Will Tear Us Apart. He also leads on the Oasis’ classic, Champagne Supernova. There is also a beautiful rendition of Simon & Garfunkel’s Sound Of Silence. He is accompanied here by Charlie, his future son in law who opened the show. Charlie is a member of Nashville band BETCHA, however he is playing solo for this tour.
NASHVILLE
Sanctuary, a hauntingly beautiful song from the Nashville show follows. It is a song that has the audience in a reflective mood, and all those familiar with the show re-live the scenes from the show. Good Rain or Jesus delivers a similar effect.
Esten’s versatility ensures a great transition from the quieter emotional songs, like Somewhere In The Sunshine, to the upbeat I Ain’t, and Down The Road; the latter, with a Bruce Springsteen vibe, has everyone on their feet.
Esten shows an impressive talent as showman and entertainer throughout. It is clear that the audience enjoy a collective love of all things Nashville, and his core fans have become a community of friends with a shared interest in Esten and his music.
A great night is completed with a song that has truly become an anthem from the Nashville series, as Charles Esten bowed out and wished all of us A Life That’s Good.
All of Charles Esten’s upcoming tour dates are here. Check out the title track of Esten’s debut album below. You can find links to the album here.
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