Michael Kiwanuka - Islington Assembly Hall - 16/02/12

I feel very fortunate to have been at this gig. I bought tickets for it on the basis of a stunning performance on Later with Jools Holland. With Kiwanuka not having an album out until March he was a slightly unknown quantity, but when a guy has the sort of voice & talent as him you just know that it won't be a waste of your time. Listening to his few songs on Spotify I was convinced that this guy has a wonderful talent that is timeless. If you told an unwitting listener that he was a singer from the 60s or 70s I don't think they'd put up too much of an argument. He has similar qualities to such icons as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Richie Havens & James Taylor. He has a long way to go for sure, but the talent is there & I will be listening along for the ride.

As a venue, Islington Assembly Hall is stunning. The decor is wonderful with it's 1930s charm. Holding only a few hundred people it was a very intimate gig. The talent on stage was there for all to see. Not only Kiwanuka but the guys he surrounds himself with. They are musicians straight out of the very top drawer & there just aren't enough jazz flutes around. Kiwanuka has a tremendously smooth Baritone voice which just seems so effortless. It's wonderful to watch & even better on the ears. The guy is awesome & if he wants to do a similar thing to Adele & break America, I get the feeling he will be huge over there too. Special mention for the drummer who I thought was wonderful. He managed to play some stunning beats without ever taking the limelight. One of the most accomplished drumming performances I think i've ever seen.

I must say that hats off to the sound guys working on the show, it was probably the best sound quality i've ever experienced at a gig & only helped to enhance the musical & vocal qualities on the stage in front of me.

HIGHLIGHT: A very tough one but probably just sneaking it was Tell Me A Tale which was just majestic. I'm not sure i've heard a crowd quite so quiet.

SUPPORT: The Staves.
3 girls from Watford with stunningly beautiful voices & harmonies. Very much fitting into the British "Folk" scene currently boasting Johnny Flynn, Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, et al. I would say they're more 'American' than the aforementioned names. I could very much imagine them being endlessly played on a country music show, or finding them in a parallel universe where Bob Harris is introducing them on the Old Grey Whistle Test in the late 1960s or early 1970s. They were so good that I may have to go & see them again when they play London again in May. I bought their EP straight after their set. You can listen to their EP on their website www.thestaves.com

PHOTO:
My view of the stage. Back to the mixing desk in order to be in the centre of the speakers.