Ed Sheeran A-team Acoustic and un-mic'd at the Soiled Dove Underground, 12/17/2012.

Live at the Soiled Dove 12/17/2012. Ed Sheeran played a fully acoustic set at the Soiled Dove Underground. He told the stories behind his songs, and played most of his set without a microphone, standing on a table in the middle of the bar. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. He played "Small bump" which he wrote for a friend who miscarried, then he played a tradition Irish song called "Parting Glass," and told us this was his last concert of 2012. A year in which he started without a hit, and ended with a Grammy Nomination and sold out venues. Then he told the story behind this song - The A-Team. He wrote it after meeting a woman named Angel, a recovering heroin addict. Sheeran explained that his inspiration behind the song came from an experience volunteering at a homeless charity during the holidays. The temporary shelter was set up in East London to house the homeless and provide health and lifestyle services, like Ed playing tunes for the residents. While there he saw signs posted all over that said "Angel's Rules." The people explained that there was a woman, named Angel, who had been trouble until they made her the unofficial sheriff of the shelter. She could make the rules as long as she followed them. Sheeran reminisced, "She was actually a big Guns N' Roses fan and made me play 'Sweet Child O Mine' like six times. I had a chat with her and a sit down." After finishing the gig, one of his friends and fellow volunteers explained that at the end of the holiday season the shelter would close and described to Sheeran what life was like for people of the shelter like Angel. "I was 18 at the time. Lived away from home for about two years but I had never really seen the dark underbelly of London." Ed continued, "It was a bit of a wake up call to me. I wrote this song for Angel."

Watch it and you won't be disappointed. Ed Sheeran told us that this concert was definitely in his top 3 of this year because it was so quiet and he could get rid of his mic and just play acoustic. You could hear a pin drop...and remember, no mic, no soundboard. Just him on top of a table.