By Ben Hockin
It's hard to describe Paolo Nutini. He's from Scotland but his name has Italian and Spanish roots, and he's ostensibly a singer-songwriter who oscillates between dour heartbreak folk and jittery soul. But he (and his eight man band the Vipers) clearly knows how to have fun, which was on display during his loose, freewheeling performance last night at New York City's Terminal 5.
Right from the opener "New Shoes," Nutini proved that no matter what the vibe of the song, his youthful energy would not be denied. It was contagious, as the crowd hung with him throughout the set, as did his gray-haired harmonica player.
"Everyone loves shoes," Nutini said following his opener. "They are vehicles for your feet." It was the first of the singer's many laugh lines in between songs.
The band mined their wide range of influences, from bluegrass ("Funky Cigarette") to the lighter-waving arena blast "Last Request," which had everyone in the audience swaying and longing to be with that special someone (including me).
To wrap up the night, Paolo and the band came out for a few encores and ended the show with a balls-out performance of the stomping "Jenny Don't Be Hasty." Nutini then bounded off the stage, knowing full well that he had conquered another crowd.
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