Performing at the Hotel Café in Hollywood could be a daunting experience. But not for New York-based Will Knox. Fresh off playing a successful string of shows in London, Knox brought his acoustic guitar to Hollywood on Monday night.

Taking the stage at 10 pm on the nose, Knox, sporting a fedora covering his long hair that could easily have him be mistaken for a Rabbi, played a good number of new songs while weaving in songs from his first LP, The Matador and The Acrobat. One of the highlights was when Knox laughingly told the audience how his girlfriend thwarted an attack by muggers on their way back home from a night out in London. Amusing, yet a lesson learned for everyone in attendance.

Highlights included “Immigrant Hands,” a song that Knox said was inspired by a trip to Ellis Island and seeing where all the new Americans were treated like cattle. It was a powerful song that was full of emotion as demonstrated by Knox’s energy and the conviction with how he delivered the song’s lyrics. There wasn’t a person in the audience who wasn’t moved.

Still a relatively new to the City of Angels, Will Knox definitely won over some new fans at the Hotel Café. Based on the reception from the audience, I wouldn’t be surprised for more people to turn up at his next show in the city.