Ghostpoet, live at Whelan's

It's a credit to London-based MC Ghostpoet that there's such a buzz in Whelan's on this otherwise dreary Monday night. Though the 24 year-old only released his debut album Peanut Butter Blues And Melancholy Jam in February of this year, he's been causing quite a stir on the 'scene', thanks in no small part to the Mercury nomination the album went on to receive. 

And tonight, the crowd is full of beans, having been warmed up by 18 (yep, 18) year-old electro whizz-kid MOTHS, aka Newbridge native Jack Colleran. Though he makes us feel old and decrepit, his laidback, summery sound goes down a treat with the crowd. Definitely one to watch.

When Ghostpoet (Obaro Ejimiwe) takes to the stage, he instantly exudes a humility that makes it hard not to love him. After thanking us for coming out on a Monday ("I don't like them, personally" he grins), he opens up with the eerie 'Gaaasp'. Its lyrics - 'Life's too short so I gotta make haste/I don't wanna get old and be a waste' show what a thoughtful writer Ejimiwe is – his social commentaries and reflections on apathy and disadvantage seem particularly relative now, given the UK's recent spate of social unrest. With just a guitarist and drummer accompanying his beats and distinctively laidback rap style, this intimate performance perfectly showcases Ejimiwe's brilliantly understated album.

He continues with 'One Twos Run Run Run' and the excellent 'Survive It', where he ponders getting older: "That's the plan in the end/Get a nice house a few true friends/A wife I can cry with, laugh and create with/Kids so beautiful they're truly a blessing/But I'm just guessing just speculating." He seems genuinely in awe of this crowd's reception, telling us that having so recently made his debut, he "never imagined being here". I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there - a contender for feelgood gig of the year!

Click here to view Ruth Medjber's pics from the night.