Queen of Hoxton
29.10.09
Perhaps the biggest surprise package of 2009, Mayer Hawthorne rolled into London to play a packed out show in the oven-like environment at the Queen of Hoxton but most certainly proved himself to be as cool as a cucumber on stage.
The man formerly known as Haircut was introduced along with his band The County, all of whom were looking very dapper in their suits, and took to the stage with a smile. From that point on it was clear that the only thing happening that night was fun!
His album, A Strange Arrangement, has the perfect balance of slow numbers and danceable Motown styled hits and Mayer was able to translate that extremely well on stage. His banter with the crowd, especially before the ballads, was brilliant so that even when the track itself didn’t get the spectators moving, smiles were firmly plastered on faces.
Running through tracks like Maybe So, Maybe No, Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out, One Track Mind and l Wish It Would Rain (complete with raindrop fingers!), the set flew by but left everyone in the building delighted they’d attended.
He saved the best track til last too, with the up-tempo The Ills, his self-confessed favourite track, finishing the night on the highest of highs with the majority of the crowd dancing as much as their confined space would let them.
He might not look like one, but Mayer Hawthorne is a star and he can only shine brighter in 2010.
Abjekt.