Jackie Leven @ Troubadour, London

Four out of five stars. Jerome describes a cramped, smoky club with waitresses walking past in front of the stage, and a nervous yet self-assured Leven whose voice makes one forget all adversity. Played were, among others, “Elegy for Johnny Cash”, “Museum of Childhood”, “Here Come the Urban Ravens” (announced as a tribute to Kevin Coyne), “Moscow Train” and “Vox Humana”, accompanied by Michael Cosgrave (keyboards) and a guitarist “Kevin O'Foster”. Plenty of coarse stage humour, including about Gordon Brown and Amy Winehouse.