“I bet you were expecting a man up here with a trumpet!” On stage in a minimal white t-shirt, jeans and an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder, James Morrison jokes about the confusion he is often met with on account of the Australian jazz musician who goes by the same name. The Forum is firmly packed with your nine to five-goers and middle aged women. In a corporate crowd like this it is amusing to watch the etiquette so readily applied within the office transpire to a music venue. Moving towards the front of the stage I weave, slide and push past people. Despite the firm lips and cold stares I am met with, no one says anything and instead oblige by stepping out of the way. There is an abundance of iPads, laptops and other expensive pieces of technology which would normally fall under your Concert No-No’s. It was of no surprise then, that when James did eventually grace the stage he was met with less enthusiasm than he would with a younger demographic. In a large venue this entire show felt like a much more intimate performance. There were no crazy dancers or much audience noise in general so the pressure was on James to keep the show lively. With a jovial presence and incomprehensible but insanely attractive accent, this wasn’t too pressing an issue for him.
Opening with Beautiful Life his velvety vocals filled every crevice of The Forum with this upbeat and soulful number. His two backing vocalists were matched in short black velour jumpsuits and large hoop earrings, decorating the five piece live band. He has a voice that is distinctive through its use of vibrato creating tones which are simultaneously smooth yet powerful complimenting his wide vocal range. With hardly any pitch errors he is truly a joy to see live. Alternating between use of the acoustic guitar and just his voice, his repertoire was simple yet beautiful. The type of performance tailored towards a smaller venue, the band spiced up the act, especially his backing vocals. Upon the first few notes of I Won’t Let You Go the otherwise still audience rippled into slow dancing, with the exception of one guy who broke out in an intense head thrusting dance which was awkward to watch. James was able to work the crescendo in this piece to perfection.
His most well known song was 2006 hit You Give Me Something. Prior to singing it he apologized to the audience about the mullet he subjected us to during the time this song was released. The audience forgave instantly en masse. This was the number that garnered the most impressive audience response and with a great guitar break topped with heart-wrenching bass lines this was easily the highlight of the night. Going off stage shortly after, he obliged to audience calls of “encore” performing two more songs finishing with Wonderful World. Although the performance would have suited a sit down venue, overall it can be described as stunningly minimal.
BY TAMARA VOGL
LOVED: His voice. Truly heart-wrenching.
HATED: The lack of audience participation (lose yoself suits!).
DRANK: Water
