On first arrival at Headrow House, I began to wonder whether I had gotten the venue wrong as only about ten other people were present in the ‘events room’ where Stephen Steinbrink was set to play on the 3rd October. Having arrived late, the lack of people couldn’t even be blamed on the fact that people were waiting till the support bands were over till they arrived.
Whilst the support act was playing, I noticed a man in a beanie with a beard that I was almost sure was Stephen Steinbrink. After minutes of trying to sum up the courage to go and talk to him, I realised that, alas, there was another man that looked almost identical to the previous. This man, however, was the real Stephen Steinbrink. I’m grateful I spent a while thinking about what I was going to say to him otherwise that could have been a very embarrassing encounter.
I initially felt disappointed that not many people had turned up to Steinbrink’s first gig of his UK tour, having travelled all the way from America. However, this disappointment turned to joy as Steinbrink took to the stage. The small venue and lack of people turned his set into an exclusively intimate gig, an atmosphere that could not have been captured at a larger venue.
On stage, Steinbrink’s songs evoked a certain softness that seemed to hypnotise the audience into a calm and tranquil state. The bright harmonies from new album Anagrams, consisting mainly of an acoustic guitar, were contrasted with the sombre tone of the lyrics, discussing the struggles of self identity. Closing his eyes for almost the entirety of the gig, it became obvious that Steinbrink was playing the gig as much for himself as for anyone else. Dice summed up Steinbrink’s lyrics as if they ‘could be paraphrasing your inner monologue’, a statement that I feel was true for most of the audience at Headrow House that night. Opening his eyes at the start of ‘Building Machines’, it became apparent that this was a song that perhaps Steinbrink felt he connected with most to the audience.
He even stayed to mingle with the audience afterwards and received numerous praises. I had a conversation with him myself and he seemed pleased with how his set went and happy to play for his first time in Leeds . Steinbrink connects with people on a personal level and until you see him live, you won’t experience the full potential that his talent has to offer. Although it was great seeing Steinbrink at such an intimate gig, I hope he continues to grow in success and people give him the credit that he deserves.
Mairead Nolan
(Image: NPR)