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Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - London, Bush Hall - 05.03.08
Tonight’s events at the picturesque surroundings of London’s Bush Hall have been sold out for a fair while now. Owen Ashworth’s roadshow has come to town and his fans have come out in their droves to come and see the show. Since the release of his last album, 2006’s fantastically heartfelt ‘Etiquette’, he has picked up fans left right and centre with his painfully emotional and honest lyrics and casiobeats. Tonight’s show, which isn’t to promote anything in particular despite the fact that Owen is constantly releasing singles, sees Ashworth bring 'Etiquette's female singer Jenny Herbinson over to the UK for the first time.

Similar artists usually rely on visuals to keep the audience at gigs entertained but casiotones audience are enchanted from the word go. Ashworth seems incredibly awkward onstage, taking a while to come out of his shell until he is joined onstage half way through the set by Herbinson, but despite this it is incredibly endearing. The dry wit and heartbreak and/or loneliness of his lyrics conjure up comparisons to Stephen Merrit or Morrissey (without the rubbish dancing). He even references the formers old band on ‘Toby, Take a Bow’.

When Herbinson comes onstage the show loosens up a bit. Compared to Ashworth’s shyness she compensates for her nerves by talking, a lot. But it’s still incredibly charming, she makes the audience fall in love with her with her awkward conversations of tap dancing and beautiful men in short shorts while Owen provides sarcastic comments to her stories which increases everyone else's love for him.

The new material we are previewed tonight is not a massive departure from previous material, when it comes to Casiotone for the Painfully Alone however that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It still holds the same charm that is held on previous records, which made us fall in love with him in the first place, and even more, which with any luck will see many more people fall for Owen Ashworth.


Matthew Harris

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone site: http://www.cftpa.org/