Live Review: Paolo Nutini at Terminal 5

What if Otis Redding were born in Scotland and looked like a hipster from Brooklyn?  Or, what if a 22 year old, middle class white kid from Paisley, Scotland, with boy band, heartthrob looks, could sing with the passion and soul of a 1950’s Stax recording artist?  In either case, you’d have Paolo Nutini.

Mr. Nutini, who played to a sold-out crowd on Tuesday, July 21st at Terminal 5 in New York City, treated his audience to a rare display of talent, sex appeal and grit.  Over the course of two hours and 20 songs, the relative youngster wowed the in-the-know crowd with songs from his first two albums, including “Coming Up Easy,”  “Pencil Full of Lead,” “No Other Way” and show opener "New Shoes" which had all the girls in the front rows screaming and singing every word.

With all the ingredients for a superstar career in place, this phenom comes from the most unlikely of backgrounds.  The Nutini family has lived in Paisley, Scotland for more than four generations.  Paolo's great-grandfather opened the fish and chip shop in Paisley, which his parents still operate today.  The younger Nutini’s musical education began with his late grandfather, who introduced him to Scottish folk songs as well as a wide range of other styles, the diverse influence of which was apparent in his New York City set.

"My grandfather was a big music lover," Nutini says.  "He loved boogie woogie piano, he adored opera, and it was him that really encouraged me to sing.  He always wanted somebody in the family to make music their living.  He's not around to see it, unfortunately, but I'm doing just what he wanted, and I'm doing it in his honor." And if Paolo Nutini’s performance at Terminal 5 in New York City is any indication, his grandfather couldn’t be prouder.

NEW YORK - TERMINAL 5 - set list

New Shoes
High  Hopes
Pencil Full of Lead
Alloway Grove
Simple Things (might have actually played Loving You?)
Mellow Down Easy
Last Request
These  Streets
Growing up
Chamber Music
Candy
Funky Cigarette
Coming  Up Easy
(hi di hi)
Mexico
10/10
No Other Way
………
Tricks of  the Trade
Sleepwalking
Jenny Don’t Be Hasty

(photos by Brian Berkowitz for Blender.com)