Andrew McMahon (Islington Assembly Hall, 28/02/15)
I've been listening to Andrew McMahon's music in various incarnations for the past 12 years. Having previously written and performed with Something Corporate and Jack's Mannequin, he's now moved on to a new solo project, Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness. Saturday saw him play London for the first time since 2013 in the intimate, civilised environs of the Islington Assembly Hall.
AMITW has more of an electro pop/indie pop feel than his previous work and support band Sykes also fit into this category with a keyboard and electric drums on stage. It's a pleasant enough half an hour, but none of their songs are especially memorable.
McMahon takes his seat at a Baby Grand piano a short time later and delivers a captivating 90 minute set spanning his entire back catalogue. It's a testament to the huge number of great songs in his repertoire that he can dispense with huge Jack's Mannequin hit "Dark Blue" early on. He's a hugely likable stage presence and the solo format allows him the time to banter with the audience and tell anecdotes to put the songs in context. It's unusual for a performer to directly give their fans this sort of insight into their work and it enhanced the evening considerably.
During a performance of "If U C Jordan", a song concerning a petty high school dispute, McMahon gets great mileage from pointing out how puerile it seems a decade on while contrasting the pleasant piano melodies with the vitriolic lyrics. Elsewhere, he brings "My Racing Thoughts" to a halt, too amused by the joyous reaction of a girl on the front row. We're enjoying ourselves far too much to mind.
For the most part, the songs from the newest self-titled record prosper in a stripped back format with "High Dive" and "Maps For The Getaway" proving particular highlights. Only the upbeat "Canyon Moon" struggles to translate, in spite of McMahon's exhortations for us to clap our hands during the chorus. He also briefly touches upon his diagnosis with leukemia a few years ago and the subsequent establishment of the Dear Jack Foundation to work with young people with cancer. McMahon dedicates "Swim" to a young man in the audience who had recently been given the all clear from the disease.
Thank goodness McMahon won his battle. This wonderful show perfectly showcases the talent we would have lost.
"You've got to swim. Swim in the dark. There's no shame in drifting, feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark. You've got to swim, don't let yourself sink. Just find the horizon, I promise you it's not as far as you think. The currents will pull us away from our love. Just keep your head above"
AMITW has more of an electro pop/indie pop feel than his previous work and support band Sykes also fit into this category with a keyboard and electric drums on stage. It's a pleasant enough half an hour, but none of their songs are especially memorable.
McMahon takes his seat at a Baby Grand piano a short time later and delivers a captivating 90 minute set spanning his entire back catalogue. It's a testament to the huge number of great songs in his repertoire that he can dispense with huge Jack's Mannequin hit "Dark Blue" early on. He's a hugely likable stage presence and the solo format allows him the time to banter with the audience and tell anecdotes to put the songs in context. It's unusual for a performer to directly give their fans this sort of insight into their work and it enhanced the evening considerably.
During a performance of "If U C Jordan", a song concerning a petty high school dispute, McMahon gets great mileage from pointing out how puerile it seems a decade on while contrasting the pleasant piano melodies with the vitriolic lyrics. Elsewhere, he brings "My Racing Thoughts" to a halt, too amused by the joyous reaction of a girl on the front row. We're enjoying ourselves far too much to mind.
For the most part, the songs from the newest self-titled record prosper in a stripped back format with "High Dive" and "Maps For The Getaway" proving particular highlights. Only the upbeat "Canyon Moon" struggles to translate, in spite of McMahon's exhortations for us to clap our hands during the chorus. He also briefly touches upon his diagnosis with leukemia a few years ago and the subsequent establishment of the Dear Jack Foundation to work with young people with cancer. McMahon dedicates "Swim" to a young man in the audience who had recently been given the all clear from the disease.
Thank goodness McMahon won his battle. This wonderful show perfectly showcases the talent we would have lost.
"You've got to swim. Swim in the dark. There's no shame in drifting, feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark. You've got to swim, don't let yourself sink. Just find the horizon, I promise you it's not as far as you think. The currents will pull us away from our love. Just keep your head above"
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