John Grant played a private show at The Slipper Room (pics); plays Le Poisson Rouge tonight

photos by Amanda Hatfield; words by Bill Pearis

John Grant @ The Slipper Room, 4/24/2013

Over from his adopted home of Iceland, John Grant in town to play Le Poisson Rouge tonight and do a little press for his electronic-leaning new album, Pale Green Ghosts. Last night (4/24), however, he played an hourlong private show for press and industry types at tiny Lower East Side club The Slipper Room. The room’s jewel box stage there was perfect for John’s witty, moving, lay-it-on-the-line songwriting style that is a direct descendent of Harry Nilsson, Elton John and Paul Williams (who, interestingly, was playing at the exact same time to a Cafe Carlyle audience that included Elaine Stritch!). He was much less chatty then when I saw him back in December 2010 but, with piano and acoustic guitar backing from a couple other musicians, John let the songs (and his amazing baritone pipes) do all the talking.

Tickets are still available for Le Poisson Rouge tonight which is highly recommended. More pictures from The Slipper Room are below.

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John Grant