The evening opened with a set from Whitehouse, all his own songs apart from one from the pen of Mr Hewerdine. With his gentle, slightly breathless, voice and excellent guitar work he's a pleasure to listen to. The songs aren't half bad either, with the stunning When We Were Sleeping standing out, and providing the chance for a bit of audience participation.
Dan has a pleasantly relaxed and modest approach, with energy emerging from his guitar playing, and his use of sampling and layering adds a welcome complexity to some numbers. But's it the quality of the songwriting that stands out most.
After the break Boo took the stage, with occasional assistance from Whitehouse on guitar and backing vocals. A few new songs from his forthcoming album, due out later this year, plus a clutch of old familiars, including some of his most famed, and even a couple from his old days as a budding rock star with the cult band. If you haven't heard of Hewerdine there's a fair chance you'll know one of his songs, especially if you're a fan of the great Eddi Reader with whom he's worked for more than two decades.
There's nothing really innovative about Boo's songwriting, but that's no criticism. Every one is beautifully constructed, a memorable tune and lyrics that tell a story or paint a picture, with memorable phrases abounding. His voice is a paradox, combining both smoothness and tension, and always distinctive.
But a Hewerdine gig is also a chance to laugh. Wry, self deprecating, witty, the gaps between the songs are as entertaining as the music. It's a shame that the smallish audience was so quiet (but this is Edinburgh....), but the smiles at the end were obvious. Boo Hewerdine is a class act. And one of the greatest songwriters around today.
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