Q Awards, Kentish Town Forum, London
Mumford & Sons and Paloma Faith triumph at gig sponsored by magazine for elderly
In the last of six shows running up to Q magazine’s annual awards ceremony, the Kentish Town Forum played host to an eclectic mix of 2009’s more notable new kids on the block, with foot tapping folk beats, Kanye-influenced tunes and extravagant soulful sounds.
The brilliant Mumford & Sons started the evening, playing their first gig since new album Sigh No More’s release last month. Their set oozed confidence and they had soon turned the Forum into a bouncing barn dance, throwing the audience into frenzied delight. New single 'Little Lion Man' kicked it up a gear, with its lively, exciting sound, as lead singer Marcus Mumford’s vocals tore through the hearts of the adoring fans. They then cranked the banjos up to 11, with 'The Cave'; the song shone, the stage bathed in a bright yellow light, capturing the audience’s attention and encouraging ferocious foot stomping. But Mumford can also impart a little bit of tenderness. 'Thistles and Weeds' was dramatic, darker, wrapped in an Arcade Fire-like layer of melancholic musical joy. New track 'Whispers in the Dark' closed the set, sweeping the Forum up in a dustpan of heavy drum beats and excellent vocals, leaving the crowd gasping for more and exploding in support for the London band.
But from cheers to boos, the atmosphere was flipped on its head as the special guest came on stage. Mr Hudson, minus onetime backing band The Library, from whom he appears to have cancelled his card, was up against it from the start. Saturday’s audience were neither his crowd, nor his audience, and despite his best efforts, he failed to really shine. Rather than a cool R’n’B-electro mix, Mr Hudson is a little more soft-electro Orson at times. The audience struggled with the fairly middle of the road tracks from his second album Straight No Chaser, preferring the collaborations instead. 'Forever Young', an Alphaville cover from Jay Z’s Blueprint 3 album, was perfectly suited to his vocals and was great live. As was the final song, 'Supernova'. The Kanye featuring track (minus West on the night), was both forceful and domineering enough to take the crowd by the scruff of the neck, winning over a few of the naysayers in the process. But a deserved Q Award winner for Best Breakthrough Act?! Not on this performance.
And so, the headliner; a 2009 graduate from the school of Amy Winehouse: Paloma Faith. The ravishing red head, sparkling like a ginger glitter ball, was welcomed to the stage; and what a stage it was. Draped in white balloons, large domino pieces and tiny chairs, the Forum was host to Paloma’s world of the twee. She opened with her hit 'Stone Cold Sober', perched on a chair and armed with a giant balloon... if she wanted the crowd’s attention, she had it. 'Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?' was superb. Borrowing from Duffy and Adele, her voice was impressively powerful, standing upon a chair as her lead guitarist rocked it on his knees, encasing the Forum in song and a wall of sound. The Hackney girl is playful, charismatic and confident, her encore delightfully blending Sinatra’s 'New York, New York' into the beginning of her own take on the famous city; she jumped around the stage, with the rock’n’roll mannerisms of Mick Jagger, whipping up the crowd into a whirl of dancing and singing. It built and built to an ecstasy of musical crescendo, ending in Paloma collapsing on the floor to an eruption of applause. Move aside Amy, Paloma’s here, and this town ain’t big enough for the both of ya’.
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