Start to End show perfect way to honour genius

The concept is simple. Five musicians from different bands join together to perform an album of their choice from beginning to end.

Previously, the Start to End team have taken on Daft Punk’s Discovery and My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless albums.

Last night, the crew – Sam West, Martin Johnston, Craig McMahon, Joe Rattray, and Louis Abbott – reunited to play the debut, and only completed LP, of Jeff Buckley.

Released in 1994, the eclectic mix of musical genres that is Grace was a commercial flop for the son of folk singer Tim Buckley, but has since gone on to garner a cult status. Sadly, it was to be the only album released by the singer, who was killed in a boating accident in 1997.

His music has inspired many artists since – Thom Yorke, Matt Bellamy and Fran Healy to name a few.

I was intrigued to see if this band of musicians would try to emulate Buckley’s distinctive voice – or deliver their own interpretation of the 10-track album.

The show at Aberdeen’s Lemon Tree was kicked off with some home-grown talent in the form of Katie Mackie who, despite her own review that her set had “gone badly”, impressed the crowd with her beautiful vocals and songwriting. She was followed by the second female vocalist support act of the night, Heir of The Cursed.

Then it was onto the main event – and it was clear from the first few bars of Mojo Pin that Jeff Buckley fans would not be disappointed.

Singer Sam West evoked the spirit of Buckley, comfortably and impressively giving life to his unpredictable and mesmerising sound.

More impressively, he easily hit the high notes the late singer is so loved for.

If you closed your eyes during many of the songs you could sometimes be fooled into thinking Buckley was in the room.

The real test was in Hallelujah – Buckley’s cover of the Leonard Cohen classic being his most famous song – and Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – my favourite of the Jeff back catalogue.

The latter was played without fault but it was with the chillingly beautiful Hallelujah that West showed his true talent.

His rendition was breathtaking and poignant while his guitar solo made silence fall over the room.

The show was brought to a close on a high with the rocky Eternal Life and Led Zeppelinesque Dream Brother.

The only thing that was lacking for me from the show was some narrative. I wanted to know why they chose Grace, what their relationship to the album was and whether Buckley had shaped them as musicians at all.

Otherwise, it was the perfect way to remember the genius the world said goodbye to 20 years ago.

Jeff Buckley’s only completed LP, Grace, was album of choice