大象传媒

From the second James Vincent Mc Morrow takes to the stage, a hushed reverence falls over a sold out Black Box. For a show so early in the day it's encouraging that there's barely standing room only in the venue, and everyone here hangs on the every word of the singer.

Opener 'Ghosts' sees the singer plough a lonely furrow on stage, with only his guitar for company, and yet it never feels like he needs anything more. The haunting vocal carries through the venue with ease, and for the first time this afternoon the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end,
Next song 'We don't eat' proves to be one of the high points in the set; without the piano backing that accompanies it on the album this song is genuinely moving, and for the first time today a few people in attendance whisper along with the swooning lyrics.

Despite his quiet and considered demeanour when singing, there is a refreshing level of between song banter, with the already attentive audience laughing in all the right places.

As you'd imagine most of the set comes from the singer's Choice Music Prize nominated debut album, but it's at this point that we're treated to a cover version. However rather than playing an obvious cover of some chart bothering number by Lady Gaga or similar, we get 'Wolves' by Phosphorescent. This sits in the set just as well as any of the singer's own tracks, made up of a whispered vocal and sparse, picked guitar.
It's at this point that 3 backing vocalists join James on stage for an upbeat 'Sparrow and the Wolf' followed quickly by 'From the woods!!'. The backing vocalists' harmonies are used sparingly, but to devastating effect, elevating these songs and making them feel - if anything - more essential.

At the start of his set James explains that life on the road has caught up with him and he's burdened with a heavy cold, and yet it's only on next track "If I had a boat" that this is apparent. Towards the end of the track, as he strains to reach some of the high notes, his falsetto delivery lets him down.

What happens next is a rare treat. James and the backing vocalists moved off the stage and onto the floor infront of the stage for an achingly beautiful version of 'This old dark machine'. Despite having no amplification, their voices carried effortlessly throughout the venue, resulting in a deceptively intimate performance.

As he leaves the stage to rapturous applause, those gathered filter out of the venue. 听As we emerge into the blinding sunlight, we feel like we've just witnessed something special, and certainly a performance worthy of the hype.

Dom Brogan