Vortex Jazz bar is a very laid back, civilised affair, and a fitting venue for elegant Oklahoman singer-songwriter Adam McBride-Smith to initiate proceedings at the Electroacoustic Club’s inaugural event at this Dalston hang-out.

His crisp guitar, polished voice and evident reverence for old American folk and bluegrass make for an impressive and endearing performance if not the most memorable. He has style and plenty of substance but is lacking a certain je-ne-sais-quoi.

On the other hand headliners Viarosa were less palatable, though the astonishing array of guitars used by Rob ‘more than 25% of the band’ McHardy (more than 50% on the night considering this was a stripped-down two man show) was very impressive, so arrayed was the number of guitars that a thorough search of Wikipedia turned up an incomplete list that still boasted banjo, mandolin, lap steel (acoustic and electric) and (I think) electric baroque beyond the standard acoustic.

The big problem with this though was that half the set was spent tuning and swapping cables. The bigger problem was that these were the cheeriest parts of the evening. Lead singer Rob Neuberg kept his promise not to play all ‘murder ballads,’ however even the supposedly more chipper numbers would have had Little Miss Sunshine searching for a dangerous dose of Valium.

It’s hard not to hold a grudging respect for something so emotive, but that doesn’t make it easier listening and it’s no surprise when he mentions that the band are soon to get some royalties for the soundtrack of an upcoming Charles Manson documentary.