Jake Bugg lets his songs shine at the Troubadour

Seraphina Lotkhamnga on January 19th, 2013

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It was a night of anticipation Wednesday as the sold-out crowd at the Troubabour waited for U.K teen sensation Jake Bugg to take the stage for his first Los Angeles show. Just 18, Bugg (whose real name is Jacob Kennedy) has been all the rage across the Atlantic for his classic folk rock, which at once reveals his young innocence and a wisdom beyond his years, juxtaposing retro and modern in a timeless way.

||| Photos by Kelsey Heng

He did not disappoint. Sporting a mop-top straight out the Fab Four, Bugg was all business during his hour-long set, eschewing stage banter for intense focus on his
songs. There was little more than a few polite, deep-voiced “thank yous” between numbers, which alternated between the singer-guitarist going it alone and accompanying a bassist and drummer.

His talent did shine through. Although Bugg didn’t crack a smile once through out the 14-song set, his vocals certainly translated the youthful energy of his songs like “Trouble Town.” He delivered lyrics like “I drink to remember / I smoke to forget” (from “Two Fingers”) and “One Friday night I took a pill or a two” (“Seen It All”) with crisp clarity and convincing ache as the strobe lights whirled during each chorus. His imagery and musicality were the stars of the show instead of any expected stage persona.

Perhaps the lad was trying to be mature for his young age; perhaps he was simply nervous. But it mattered little when he channeled some Bob Dylan on “Ballad of Mr. Jones” and switched to an electric guitar for a shredding solo. He finally asked, “So you all having a good time, then?,” which seemed a bit forced, but when he sang the Ryan Adam-esque “Slide,” those nimble fingers and headstrong vocals sufficed.

It was enough for the moment. Bugg’s self-titled debut (on Mercury Records) only came out in October in the U.K., and his forthcoming “Two Fingers” EP will introduce him stateside. There’s time for him to figure out who is in front of an audience, and to be honest, there’s really no need to rush him. Jake Bugg may be shy on stage now, but his songs sound like they’ve been roaring through amps and dancing with the lights for decades.