Live Report: Rag'n'Bone, The Trinity Summer Series 2018

It’s great when musicians sound better live than on record and Rag’n’Bone Man aka Rory Charles Graham is one of these people. Maybe it’s seeing in person the juxtaposition between the singer’s look – at 6ft 5 inches, covered in tattoos and with a buzz cut, he looks like he fronts a Kerrang band – and his incredibly soulful baritone voice. It could also be the Trinity Venue. Smaller than the typical arena or festival main stage, perhaps there’s an added intimacy hearing the singer there than in album form.

The night kicked off with supporting act Grace Carter, playing a similar brand of R&B and soul to Rag’n’Bone Man. By the time she ended her confident set with the gorgeous ‘Silence’, audiences were more than warmed up for the headliner. He entered the stage to a rock and roll intro jam of blasting drums, guitars and trumpets, his stage band probably another reason why he sounded edgier live.

Rag’n’Bone Man’s lyrics revolving around blood in the rain (‘Hard Came the Rain), graveyards (‘Wolves’) and preachers (‘Ego’) captured a sweaty, southern gothic vibe – perfect for the sunny weather. ‘Your Way or the Rope’ sounded super melodic and soulful. These tunes hit harder than his slower ballads such as ‘Odetta’. Although, one gets a sense Graham knows this, joking with the crowd: ‘I’ve a depressing song now. The one after is a bit more cheery.”

The big songs – ‘Skin’, an extended version of ‘Human’ and closer ‘Hell Yeah’ – go down a storm with audiences. Although, one wonders why with such a strong timbre, Rag’n’Bone feels the need for brief forays into hip-hop - an area where he’s less adept – he can be forgiven. He’s only human after all.