Being in the presence of the man who wrote The Wichita Lineman is in itself a pleasure. Hearing Jimmy Webb perform that very song along with other tracks - old and new - is surely pleasure times ten? Walking on stage at the vast echoey Concert Hall, the stately yet youthful Mr Webb, now 59, takes his place behind a grand piano, which doesn't look so grand compared to the colossal dinosaur of an organ behind him that tonight only serves as a rather remarkable backdrop. The genial and extremely talkative song-writer is evidently keen to plug his new album Twilight Of The Renegades, kicking off with two songs off this body of work (his first after ten long years) before launching into one of his all-time greats, Highwayman. Speaking with an air of Jack Nicholson, Mr Webb tells extensive tales behind each song, sometimes the audience will be listening for a good ten minutes to his animated monologue. Namechecks include Frank Sinatra (Mr Sinatra to him), Johnny Cash, Willy Nelson, Art Garfunkel (Artie to him) and many more golden-voiced luminaries. This, for some, is a great insight into why a song is written, for others it's a question of 'get on with it cos we want to hear music!'. His vocals by his own admittance are a little raspy as this is the home-stretch of a long tour, but most times Mr Webb sings with the clarity and passion of those who have put his songs in the spotlight. There's Galveston, Didn't We and Shattered, which he reveals was written after hearing of John Lennon's murder. Of course Glenn Campbell receives an honourable mention - not only did Campbell put Webb on the song-writing map but of course recorded The Wichita Lineman. Curiously Webb remains conspicuously silent regarding the song's background, not mentioning one single anecdote before or after he performs it to rapturous applause. About Campbell however Webb could probably talk all night, especially since he's getting ready to record another album with him. It's both refreshing and disappointing to hear his famous songs performed with a highbrow piano instead of their more familiar country jackets. While his piano-playing is so stellar it's like he was born with the keys attached to his fingers, it also gives the air of a performance within a posh hotel restaurant. My Beautiful Balloon, a song he says was written age 16 at the San Marino Valley College (before he was kicked out), receives the most stupendous applause of the night. You could say the audience were taken up, up and away? This is unfortunately literally the case when a bustle of people stand up before the second encore - well, it was Sunday and the second hand was itching towards 11pm. Perhaps there's only so much piano and anecdotes you can hear, regardless of whether Webb is one of the greatest contemporary song-writers around.听听 | 
