Date: 28th October 2007

Venue: Glasgow ABC

I first heard Senior Gonzalez through his collaboration work with the excellent Zero 7, I was aware of the Sony Bravia TV commercial featuring Heartbeats, but didn’t know it was him at the time. After hearing his contribution to The Garden and seeing him take to the stage with the Zero 7 boys, I have been a fan ever since.

He has an excellent voice and is his finger picking on the guitar is second to none. The gig tonight showcased both these talents, it was the first gig in a long time that I had been to that was mainly seating (in fact the last one was Beth Orton I think) but as Jose doesn’t really play “Throw Mad Shapes On The Dance Floor” music, that was fine (granted me Rob, Fraser, Fiona, Audrey and her cousin didn’t get seats, but hey that didn’t matter). We watch as he delicately played “Heartbeats” and “Slow Moves” from Vaneer, but kicked up the pace with the likes of “Lovestains”.

Now I know there are people out there that Criticize him for the fact that he does play covers in his set, but he plays him in his unique style, pretty much turning them into his songs (yes I know the original artists would disagree), I mean any man that can make Kyle Minogue’s “Put You Hand On Your Heart” sound cool has clearly pulled off the impossible.

Only accompanied on stage by some percussionists, he makes it hard to believe that there is only one guitar playing! My highlight was when he played his cover of an all time favourite of mine…… “Teardrop” by Massive Attack, a fantastic 3 minutes of my life!!!!

Of course there was an on-choir and we were treated to “Killing for Love” from In Our Nature and last song of the night, wait for it……… Run Away by Bronski Beat.

What a guy!!!