The music of Joshua Radin is what you listen to during the long ride home. His CD is the one you crave at the end of a bad day, the one that brings your heart back to life, and the one that wraps your soul in comfort.

Radin’s musical artistry envelopes sweet acoustic chords with a soft, breathy intone. The thematic tempo is causal – not fast enough to dance to but just fast enough to get your heart rate up. Relaxing and replenishing, his light-handed strumming was wistful, natural, and melancholic. The sounds reflected an easy-going, folksy rhythm, but at second glance his fingers were jumping, plucking, strumming, flittering, and curling around the guitar with talented complexity.

The music connected immediately to my spirit and as I listened to Radin for the first time, he seemed to have been writing for me my whole life. His real talent lies in songwriting, which generated the bulk of his lasting impression of me. It was straight from the heart, and without telling a story, it explained the emotional upheavals we feel in our every day lives. Some songs were optimistic, other regretful, while others just plain sad. He didn’t depress me, nor did he point a blameful finger. He just expressed the private heartbreaks we quietly suffer, with poignant clarity.

He doesn’t bellow his words, and his vocal range isn’t expansive. He has a high, rhapsodic pitch with a whispery undercurrent. Without the masterful guitar playing, his songs would blend together. But they don’t. His vocals may never vary, but his acoustics are extremely eclectic and creative.

I enjoyed the acoustics the most and I think the crowd did too. Radin seemed to mesmerize everyone in Belly Up Tavern with his playing, ushering in a spirit of openness and sensitivity. Although talented and pretty famous, between songs he made the crowd feel comfortable, welcomed, and appreciated. He has a genuine presence on stage that makes his music all the more real, unadulterated and pure. By the end of the show I wanted to have go get a cup of java with the guy – he had that strong of a likeability factor.

Overall it was a good show; suitable for a cold, winter Wednesday night. Radin’s music is cozy and relaxing, and I recommend his romantic concerts for date nights, couples or just for the pleasure of acoustic aficionados.