IT TAKES a great deal of integrity and not a little pluck to get up in front of a room full of people and put your money where your mouth is.
Particularly if you've spent the best part of the last six years telling everyone else how they've been doing it wrong. But when you're a former critic, you've got to do something with all those spare evenings that were once spent in the pursuit of a
ppreciating someone else's art.
For Martin Lennon, Edinburgh Evening News reviewer, artist and fledgling songwriter, filling those nights with his own creations is simply the first step to a whole new chapter in his life.
Hot on the heels of an art show at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre in December, Lennon has now turned his hand to the love he hadn't embraced in decades of writing music.
Sitting down 18 months ago, Lennon put pen to paper for the first time in 30 years and has been doing so well that he's already winning plaudits from a host of other musicians.
So impressed was local jazz singer Rosie Nimmo, of Rosie Blues and Rosie Blues Duo, that she invited him to share a mic with her in an intimate gig for the Leith Festival last night.
The result is the sort of laid-back vibe that Monday nights were made for.
In fact, in the time Lennon's taken out from writing his own songs, he's developed just the sort of smoke-filled, gravel-gargling voice that suits his Tom Waits style delivery, lovelorn lyrics and twangy, flat-picking English blues sound.
Backed by the rather too talented local bassist Andy Gilmour on a five-string fretless bass, Lennon opened the night with a mellow selection of songs with excellent hooks and a haunting hint of Pink Floyd and Dougie MacLean about them.
Some of the more upbeat songs, such as Little Green Shoes and Blue Eyes, crying out to be picked up for mobile phone commercials.
Taking over at half time, Rosie Nimmo treated the audience to a showcase of songs from her new album, Lazy and Mellow. Including the title track, a whimsical song with the sort of bluesy ease that makes you want to share it with Sunday brunch and the newspapers.
Although a seasoned performer, Nimmo's nervousness was in evidence at the beginning of the set and it wasn't until she relaxed into the end of the evening, with songs such as Joy, that the guitars melted into the background and the purity of her voice really came to the fore. Blending dark, indie-inspired lyrics with such clear vocals gives Nimmo's work an almost Detroit Blues meets acoustic Nirvana feel to songs including Dangerous and Nothing to Fear. While as She's Flying and That Shy Girl brought out the girlish fun that infuses many of her lyrics.
Pausing to give the crowd one last song, she sang them the tune her music engineer reckons will be the next 'Peugeot ad'.
Let's just hope that Lennon and Nimmo don't suddenly find themselves so busy writing songs that suit large, well-paying companies that they don't have time to reprise their pairing for the next Leith Festival.
Your Review: 'It was like being in your living room'Eloise Logan, 34, shopkeeper, The Shore: "Isobar's such a good little place, it was a really involving gig, like being in your own living room. It was fantastic. I was really surprised by how good they were. I'm disappointed that they didn't have more CDs on sale, but I guess they'll get round to that if they do more shows together. I would certainly come and see them again if I heard they were on."
Neil Sinclair, 42, painter, Ocean Terminal: "Thoroughly entertaining evening. I've heard Rosie before but Martin Lennon is excellent too, they complemented each other. I can easily make loads of comparisons with other well-known musicians. You wouldn't believe the guy hadn't written a song in 30 years, he's got some good hooks in there. The bassist was absolutely great, really impressive."
Dave Watts, 59, retired, Colchester: "I saw Rosie at the Leith Festival last year. I really enjoyed the night, I'm pleased I came. It was very intimate. There was something unpolished about it which really made it honest. It had integrity."
