Joseph bosses the Boss

Martyn Joseph has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”, and there are also shades of John Mayer, Bruce Cockburn and Dave Matthews.

Despite his obvious association with The Boss’s rock classics, Joseph’s style is difficult to pin down.

Perhaps, that’s why — when we see a live act that has that special something — we simply look at each other and nod. Words on these rare occasions are simply unnecessary.

There is a versatility to Joseph’s music that is hard to categorise. If you can get your head around folk-rock-soul-folk funk-Americana, your on the right track.

His songs are pictures, and stories, and feelings all put to music and delivered by a master craftsman.

Joseph released a CD of Bruce Springsteen songs, that hit the right note with reviewers and music fans alike, with the glowing endorsement of Dave Marsh, acclaimed American music critic and official Springsteen biographer. Joseph’s strong vocals and skilled guitar and harmonica playing inject new life into some of the lesser known “blue collar life” gems, together with a handful of stripped back takes on narrative classics like Thunder Road, Badlands and The Rising and for the album closer, an unpretentious No Surrender, perhaps surprisingly, played on the ukulele.

Says Joseph: “I have always found a reference point in Bruce’s material that I was able to connect with and make my own. And I always try to carry that honesty and integrity to the stage. Many kind folk have asked me to record an album of his songs so I decided to give it a go.”

See for yourself on Friday, November 7, at Glasgow City Halls Recital Room, Candlerigg. Starts 8pm. Tickets £18.