One Sided Horse. Hole In The Wall, Darlington. 28.12.18.

If someone told me I’d enjoy listening to an acoustic set of cover songs that included one by Abba and one from Grease I’d have laughed at them. Yet Emily Whitfield, tonight’s opening act, does just that and her voice is so rich, powerful and soulful that I sit 100% focused for the whole of her 30 minute set.

Emily Whitfield

At the beginning of December I watched Mark Whiteside screeching out lyrics and pounding out beats as the drummer in psycho, prog metal, carnival rock ‘n’ roll outfit Evil Blizzard. Tonight, in this small, intimate upstairs room at Hole The Wall, lit mainly by fairly lights draped across the stage/floor, he is One Sided Horse. An altogether different beast.

One Sided Horse/Whiteside delivers an acoustic set of songs that are gentle, deep, dark, moving, packed so full of genuine emotion that you are completely drawn in to his world of yearning, love lost and love hoped for. Every song comes with a personal story and, if the lyrics aren’t enough, most are introduced with open, honest words admitting they’re about a special someone or time. As OSH, Mark Whiteside, backed by Mickey Dale, Richard McNamara, Steve Firth and Mike Heaton from Embrace, this year released one of 2018’s defining albums Between Light & Space. With its keyboards, guitars and drums backing Whiteside's deep, melodic voice Between Light & Space quickly draws you in with it’s solemn melodies– as a solo performer with just an acoustic guitar OSH  wraps you up and takes you to another place where you stand face to face with your own emotions - both current and those long forgotten.

One Sided Horse/Mark Whiteside.

‘See Your Face’ - “I want to sit with you, tell stories of our past. And hope that they will come, they won’t be our last.” “It’s a beautiful day when I see your face”.

“Light my flame, stand well back. I’m a crackerjack. My heart's ignited by your kiss…” introduces us to ‘Crackerjack’, a song Whiteside tells us people often say is their favourite OSH song. But depending on your own frame of mind and emotional state any song tonight could be a favourite. Any could make you smile or well up with tears. And surely that is the sign of a brilliant songwriter?

Anyone who follows OSH/Mark Whiteside on social media will know what a prolific writer he is. New songs, parts of songs, ideas for songs are often uploaded from his flat, partly to gauge follower’s responses but partly, I suspect, as a way of laying his feelings bare for the world to see.

I love Evil Blizzard – there’s no other live band like them and their gigs are always special. But I’m looking forward just as much to what Mark Whiteside does next as OSH. Tonight, with just a guitar, he delivered one of my favourite gigs of 2018. 

One Sided Horse / Mark Whiteside.