THE first time this reviewer heard Chris Helme sing live at The Marr’s Bar her jaw dropped about six feet.

Six months later and this ex Seahorses front man is back and singing his heart out at one of his favourite venues. Helme is no stranger to performing live having headlined at Glastonbury whilst with The Seahorses, and toured extensively during the 1990’s supporting U2, Oasis and The Rolling Stones.

However, a Sunday night in Worcester is a little different... No tents, burger vans and porta loos; just an atmospheric tea-light strewn bar with table service (a nice touch from the Marr’s Bar).

Helme played here to a small but highly appreciative crowd who joined in with great gusto during his Seahorses’ numbers (including ‘Love is The Law’; a previous number 2 chart hit and ‘Moving On’) and lapped up the new tracks from his first solo album, ‘Ashes’.

Helme would be the first to admit that his voice has matured since his Seahorses days. His recent visits to The Marr’s Bar show us that he is very clearly rising from the ashes to emerge, phoenix style, as a talented singer songwriter.

Describing himself on Sunday evening as “windswept and interesting”; it is obvious that his music goes much deeper than this. We were treated to a number of mood changes throughout the set from the sultry, Tarantino-esque ‘Lorali’ to the lyrically charming ‘Fireflies’. Helme then sent us out into Sunday night with the rousing ‘Be your Husband’; a number which is designed to get your feet and hands tapping.

We may have been small in number but we made up for it in noise as we applauded this rising star. Sunday evenings are often full of woes and anxieties regarding Monday morning. Put December 14th in your diary now and give yourself a treat – Chris Helme is back. Don’t miss him.