Jazz Open

To say right now that watching Katy Perry live is a total MUST is, actually, quite an understatement. Just a look at her current tour sales will tell you that almost no one wants to miss her latest live production. But watching Katy Perry live is more than just a show, it's more of a lovely memory you will share with friends you didn't know you had.

Katy Perry is one of those artists who fully commits herself to bring her fans an experience that displays cutting edge production while keeping a deeply intimate vibe. There's little chance you'll see her outside the local major arena these days, and still she always makes it feel like a tiny place and like every song is been sung directly to you. No, that does not have anything to do with me watching her on the stage fence everytime. It has to do with how she gets involved with every aspect of the show, as opposed to just focusing on performing, making it all even more personal. On every tour, she plays the full new album, while incorporating the fan favorite songs in a nicely balanced set, always full of awesome custome changes and stage surprises. Her long-time live band and dance crew are always a powerhouse by themselves and just add to the whole experience. The songs live always have enhanced arrangements which prove her musicianship while shocking many naysayers.

The first time she took her full tour to Mexico, was with the California Dreams Tour in 2011, with her first stop in Guadalajara. Eager to see her perform that perfect album live more than once I hopped on an overnight bus and made the trip by myself. The joy in the air that night, the perfection of the set, and the overall happiness in everyone's face throughout the show, allowed me to make new friends with whom I'm now making travel arrangements to see the 4 nights in Mexico of her new Prismatic World Tour. Only god knows what this tour has in store for me...

liveshowjunkie, May 2014

I saw Moby two years ago, and it was literally life-changing. Aside from the fact that I had been listening to him since I was in middle school (which, trust me, was a LONG time ago), I was interested in seeing the difference between his recorded stuff and a live set, and I was beyond overwhelmed with the mastery he and the most polished bald head in the business brought to DC that night. What brought me the most joy about Moby's live set was that he hit you with the ambient sounds, and then brought you back up again and had you shaking until you were sweating. He is beyond amazing at reading the crowd, and you could tell he was feeding off of our energy, just as much as we were feeding off of his.
I've also had the chance to take a look at Moby's sets in larger venues, and his energy and excitement are palpable, even from a recorded video taken weeks to months ago. There is something about Moby that makes you feel as if he's music personified when he's behind the decks, and he delivers a whole-of-body experience to those in attendance.

Lenny Kravitz is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has been famous since the 90’s. Some people might dismiss his music as lightweight or without too much substance, but odds are that they are only familiar with some of his more pop-oriented songs that were constantly on the radio in the early 2000’s.

He is actually a much more dynamic and talented performer than some would give him credit for – sort of a modern-day Prince. He actually can play just about every instrument featured on his albums, so you certainly have to give him props for that.

One great thing about a Lenny Kravitz show is that he attracts a very diverse audience. As a multi-racial individual who plays songs with a wide variety of musical styles, there will probably be some songs in any given set that will appeal to just about everyone. A Lenny Kravitz show draws an audience with people of all races and ages.

He also puts on quite an elaborate stage show, complete with a number of interesting costumes! Open-minded music fans will find that there is a lot more to Lenny Kravitz than his songs that get radio play. His eclectic, soulful music and surprising amount of technical chops will win over all but the most cynical individual.

Jamiroquai were at the forefront of the short-lived, London-based funk and acid jazz movement of the 1990s. Now the sole participants still touring, Jamiroquai continue to fill large arenas. Back in April 2011 the band drew thousands of excitable fans to the Phones 4U Manchester arena. The acid funk pioneers have long attracted widespread critical derision. It is indeed true that their work flits between funky jazz grooves and naff disco pop. However, it is also true that Jamiroquai are experts when it comes to working a stadium.
Sporting satisfactorily extravagant headgear, front man, Jay Kay, arrogantly, but infectiously, jumped, skipped and spun around the stage before an eleven-piece band. The whole stadium grooved along to the funky beats of ‘Space Cowboy’ and ‘Travelling Without Moving.’ Jamiroquai also managed to keep the crowd moving equally enthusiastically to their Noughties disco numbers.
Rounding off an energetic encore with ‘White Knuckle Ride’ from their 2010 album, ‘Rock Dust Light Star’, Jamiroquai informed us that they were not simply here to repeat their old favourites. The band’s latest work certainly errs towards the cheesey end of the spectrum. The pop tune constitutes a seemingly insincere contemplation of the pressures of fame. Even Jay Key seems aware of the song’s lack of credibility, pleading for us to believe him with the refrain, ‘I’m serious.’ Nonetheless, ‘White Knuckle Ride’ kept us dancing right to very end of the evening.

Do You Love ME? What a better question to an audience celebrating an holy ceremony? Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds live are more than a concert experience, and if your next Nick Cave's concert is not the first, you know what I'm talking about. It's not important how loud or intimate the last Nick's studio album was: the live side of the Men with the Red Right Hand is hypnotic, wild and terrific at the same time. You will jump into the whirlwind of emotions after the first note, and the violin of Warren Ellis more than any other instrument (except for Mr. Cave's voice) will take you on the banks of the river "where the wild roses grove"...and, listen to me: look at your back!

The set began with a roar from a barely visible Joss Stone hidden behind the wild flashing of lights. She walked out on to the stage before singing an address to the audience. ‘How are you?’ she screamed in her powerful, bluesy and soulful voice before dropping straight into ‘Power to the People’. The band were upbeat and funky and her voice is breathtaking. The bass dropping into some amazing funky riffs whilst the saxophonist would often step forward and steal the lime light with a rip roaring solo. The vibe was amazing with the people in the audience singing and dancing.
Its strange to hear Joss speak between songs; her singing voice is so powerful and confident and it was quite a shock to hear her drop in to a strong English accent as she spoke to and thanked the audience. She clearly loves performing and is wonderful whilst she sings and embraces each and every song. She seems to lack the confidence to chat and banter with the audience between songs and often the chit-chat was largely made up of pleasantries.
She performed all her big hits including Super Duper Love, You Had Me, Fell In Love With A Boy as well as a number of new tracks . She performed brilliantly throughout and this was an exciting, funky and well rehearsed show.
She has one of the most unique and powerful voices in music and I look forward to seeing her retain her star status. On this performance I have no doubt she will.

In 2005 piano virtuoso Jamie Cullum officially became the biggest UK selling Jazz artist, fusing pop and jazz and making it contemporary whilst introducing new audiences to the niche. Piano music was now cool to listen to. Having released six studio albums provides plenty of material for Cullum to delve into for his incredible live shows. His “Twentysomething” album released in 2003 received great critical acclaim, achieving number 3 in the UK album charts, still remaining his highest album position to date.
If you think Jamie Cullum live is more like a piano recital, then you are highly mistaken. Cullum has an unconventional way of using the piano, whilst it might appear to be centre of attention it’s how he interacts with the piano which is all part of the unique experience which his shows provide. From the moment Jamie Cullum walks onto the stage in smart casual attire coupled with some comfy shoes, you can tell that all your expectations will be thrown out the window. Accompanied by a full jazz band the tight musicianship assists in keeping the momentum going as Cullum delves into his repertoire playing poppy upbeat tracks such as “Take Me Out (Of Myself)”, “I’m All Over It” and “Everything You Didn’t Do” or his more melodic tracks like “These Are The Days” or purely jazz influenced “Twentysomething”.
What adds to the atmosphere of Cullum’s shows are the multiple skills which he possesses. It’s easy to get lost in how beautifully and passionately he plays the piano as his fingers slide up and down the keys in a blur, but let’s not forget that his voice is equally as brilliant and versatile, perfectly enthused with his jazz influences: Miles Davis and Tom Waits to name a few. Cullum also uses the piano as his prop, tapping beats onto the framework, stepping on the keys and standing on the hood and delivering performances atop of it. Incorporating beat-boxing into his set adds to the contemporary aspect demonstrating how his diverse music taste feeds into his music. Just as diverse as Cullum’s musical influences, the same can be said for his audience ranging in demographics, all as equally mesmerised by his sensational performances and charmed by his abundance of style and charisma.
Cover versions of tracks also play an important part in his shows, tackling contemporary artists such as Rihanna, Pharell and Massive Attack almost making the tracks unrecognisable as he adds his unique jazzy flavour to make it his own. His rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” is beautifully stunning adding to the unforgettable experience that is a Jamie Cullum show.
Expect two hours of pure mesmerising jazz infused pop and all round entertainment.

There are few musicians who can sincerely claim to have had as much impact on alternative music as Nick Cave. The veteran frontman began plying his trade with The Birthday Party in the late 70s and today still remains one of the most respected men in rock. With a career spanning 30 years, and 22 albums, witnessing a Nick Cave show is truly like watching a master at work. One of the most striking elements of Cave’s music is his lyrics. Often with great modern songwriters such as Morrissey or Alex Turner, it is said that their lyrics could be poetry recited to music. That's not the case here; Nick Cave is a master of writing lyrics as lyrics should be. They immediately strike you, but as you continue to listen they develop into something greater: whether it's a devil or a joke there's always something going on in those words, always something poking its head out from in-between the lines. Another thing that makes Cave so exciting as an artist is his versatility, often reinvigorating classical song-writing structures by making them his own: whether it’s the gorgeous piano-ballads on "The Boatman's Call" or the pent-up punk of songs such as Grinderman's "No Pussy Blues."
Characterized by Cave’s deep and melodic style of singing; he writes brilliantly stark, apocalyptic odes to love and human nature, so often accompanied by a deliciously post-modern twist of his hip and his signature deprecating humor. However Cave has not built his legacy on lyrics alone, having worked side-by-side with the likes of Warren Ellis and Roland S Howard, Cave’s songs are set to astounding soundtracks and examples of superb musicianship.
Today, many people claim that the concept of a “frontman” is dead. Admittedly, there are some who have tried to revive the idea. But while at times the often Butlins-esque showmanship of these coiffed pretenders may satisfy, you haven't seen how a true frontman does it until you've seen the Black Duke strut his stuff all over your apprehensively pre-conceived sense of dignity. From climbing into a crowd and demanding that some "hatted motherf***er" make a request, before performing a perfect rendition of a decade-old B-side (as well as his greatest hits,) to screaming every word of the hormone-fueled, sounds-like-a-Tarantino-wet-dream death-blues of “Stagger Lee” into the eyes of an adoring female fan: there's never a dull moment. If this all sounds a little too niche, not to fear, Cave understands his audiences and the out-and-out entertainer, whether it’s at a festival or a theater, never ceases to entertain. Watching Nick Cave is watching a man who has come through everything that being an artist can throw at you, with his sense-of-humor and passion for performance still in check. His shows are little individual masterpieces, never the same and always exciting. He crafts his songs in front of you, etching out the nuances of every grandiose ballad, anthemic rock song or terrifying piece of social commentary. If you haven’t seen him already, do so: if you have, see him again.