Jack Penate | livemusic.fm

Jack Peñate at Concorde 2 Review

Jack Penate

4/5
Bands: Jack Peñate
Venue: Concorde 2
Gig: Jack Penate
Gig date: 30th March 2009
Posted on 17th April 2009 by johnbeyer

Musical surprises come no more startling than the one recently sprung by Jack Peñate. He came to prominence as the supporting male in the cast of post-Lily Allen dropped-aitch pop, peddling music that sounded like the Libertines might have done had they been developed by scientists in a sterile environment. The most bold thing about him was his decision to sport the bouffant hairstyle once seen atop George Michael's head in the video for Careless Whisper. That was until he released his new single, Tonight's Today: a gorgeous confection of echoing guitar, Latin-influenced beats and sparkling pop melody - and it sounds nothing like his previous work. It's hard not to applaud Peñate's boldness, unless, perhaps, you're one of the fans who sent his debut album, Matinee, into the Top 10. There are lots of them here tonight, which perhaps accounts for Peñate's slightly timid demeanour. The set is packed with songs audibly indebted to early house music and dubbed-out 80s remixes. While performing them, Peñate goes in for an admirably abandoned dance style, immediately familiar to anyone who remembers the News at Ten's footage of acid house raves. But between songs he thanks the audience profusely for listening: he seems so overwhelmed with gratitude, you half-expect to find him standing at the door as you leave, shaking everyone's hand. He needn't worry. The audience clearly relish the opportunity to bellow along to Torn On the Platform or Learning Lines, but seem equally happy to go with him as he heads off down this new path. As he thanks them for the umpteenth time, a certain swagger enters his voice: "I'm so proud of my new album, I don't really care how it does," he says. "But thank you so much." Alexis Petridis http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/01/jack-penate

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