Originally published at kemptation.com on 07 April 2015. Words by Richard Kemp

Easter Sunday evening: a night that fills Britain’s city streets with bountiful acts of merriment and debauchery. Two bank holidays in one weekend serve almost as an invitation to demonstrate the very best and worst in human behaviour, most of which have piled into Bristol’s pubs and clubs tonight, spilling out into the streets. Such strong visual displays of booze-soaked disorder seem the perfect setting for a visit from one of the country’s leading talents in rhyme-based social commentary.

Ghostpoet, a.k.a. electronic beatsmith/MC Obaro Ejimiwe, graces a sold-out Bristol Exchange to rampant cheers and applause and immediately gets stuck into new track X Marks The Spot. There might be a lot of questionable activity outside, but inside this room tonight there is nothing but love – and this is reciprocated ten-fold by the singer, whose face stays in a permanent grin for the entire occasion.

It is clear with this performance that Ejimiwe has turned a corner in his musical styling. Stark electronic glitches are replaced with straight-up guitar and bass, with long, improv-like guitar solos whipping the crowd into a dancing fever of head-bobs and body jerks. Ejimiwe’s trademark spoken-word lyricism remains a constant, nevertheless, central to the delivery of every dreamy track that propels the night along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OmtRTqeW2s

The Exchange’s sparse lighting makes the dark, sweaty venue seem more like a cavern than a nightclub round the corner from the Bristol Evening Post building. Ejimiwe draws attention to this, calling the atmosphere “tropical,” and flashing a knowing smirk. “That was the weather report, by the way” – just in case we didn’t get it, presumably. There are smiles aplenty throughout the night, with most gig-goers simply happy to see him. Ejimiwe must feel the same way, telling the crowd, “it’s been too long, Bristol!”

Latest album Shedding Skin marks an exciting new direction for Ejimiwe ­– and likely a welcome diversion for the singer – but he gracefully accepts that fans are here to hear the old stuff, too and dives into breakout single Survive It. More boogying ensues with this, as if the dancefloor wasn’t sweaty enough, while many more choose to sing along at the MC’s encouragement.

Ejimiwe clearly loves his audience, making sure to thank everyone multiple times during the set. He gives props to his band, too, taking the time to give each member a personal introduction as they offer their own flair to the proceedings.

By the end of things, Ejimiwe is drenched in sweat himself – and rightly so, after grooving up and down the stage, air drumming and jogging along to the beat of his own music, all the while trying to get the whole venue jiving in unison. He breaks the fourth wall at the final song to point out how this is generally the time for an artist to walk off stage and be called back for an encore. Instead he continues for a few more numbers before springing off the stage into the crowd to shake hands, chat and take pictures with as many people as he possibly can.

Anyone going to the Exchange tonight in search of a reason to dislike Ghostpoet would have been sorely disappointed.