Magnet Live Review @ The Night and Day Cafe (Manchester) - 09 Feb 2004

Magnet Live Review @ The Night and Day Cafe (Manchester) - 09 Feb 2004

Image:Jo Metson Scott

Live Review

A long time coming it might have been, but Even Johansen had chosen tonight to treat Manchester to one of his mesmerising live shows, despite it being last summer, almost a year on from Magnet's biggest album "On Your Side," being released. There was no argument that it was worth the wait.

Having previously played the cavernous Bridgewater Hall in support of Bebel Gilberto and also The Beautiful South, the intimate Night and Day cafe must have been quite a different experience, but perhaps more suited to his folk rock with an electronica tinged sound. As the screen lifted, the norm is to hear a huge cheer in welcome of the artist they have come to see, however tonight was quite different because as soon as Even took to the stage, there was an instant silence, as though in respect of what was to come. The opening chords to Everything's Perfect sounded, and everything soon fitted into place, the delayed but well timed welcoming cheer sounded as the song finished. As the night progressed, it appeared that the keyboard and drum sounds were being heard from nowhere, as if by magic, as to the eye, the stage only held Even and a guitar. It was not until it was divulged that his sound engineer was having to double up as keyboardist and drummer for the night that everything became clear.

An amiable and chatty Even played emotionally through songs such as "Last Day of Summer" and "The Day We Left Town," before leaving us on a positive note, with "Smile to the world," a song which would no doubt pick up the most down of souls. There was enough banter to make the evening personal, something easy to do in such a cosy venue, making the evening all the more personal, but not too much as to detract from the haunting and quality sound expressed through his music.

Aside from omitting up and coming single "Lay Lady Lay," the crowd could not have wished for better, the perfect venue, with the right music, and a good balance of crowd interaction, what more could you want?

Katherine Tomlinson

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