James Blunt, NIA Birmingham

Oct 8 2008 By Paul Bradley

HE is the bloke everybody pretends to hate.

With a squeaky voice, shaggy haircut and a toff’s accent James Blunt is more widely known for being annoying than being a pop star.

But in a cheese-fest at the NIA, the diminutive solo artist proved exactly why most people can’t help but find him endearing.

Dressed in a smart grey suit and white shirt he took his time when it came to warming up his fans.

But after a heart-wrenching rendition of No Bravery, written when Blunt was serving in the army in Kosovo in 1999, things soon picked up. A sudden, if somewhat predictable, dash into the crowd got everybody up on their feet shouting and screaming.

And a cover of Slade’s Coz I Love You almost sparked a frenzied riot as security guards fought back overzealous fans as a mini stage and piano rose up from beneath the middle of the arena.

Things calmed down quickly as Blunt changed the pace to the emotional Goodbye My Lover which tore at the heart strings of even the toughest boyfriend in the audience.

But Blunt was clearly bemused when a middle-aged man gave him a full bear-hug as he rushed back to the main stage through a sea of fans.

Blunt grappled his way free and the man waddled back to his wife’s side as she desperately tried to find a hole to hide in.

Once safely back on stage, and with the crowd on their feet, Blunt then went straight into a rendition of You’re Beautiful but he hardly needed to sing as his fans charmingly and tunefully crooned the words for him. After a long stadium tour of America in support of Sheryl Crow, Blunt and his band, which included Solihull drummer Karl Brazil, had clearly learned how to take charge of a bigger venue. By the end he had everyone eating out of his hand as he surfed on top his piano and did a very peculiar sideways dance along the stage.

The inevitable encore was also top notch with One Of The Brightest Stars followed by gut busting versions of So Long Jimmy and 1973.