James Morrison, Hammersmith Apollo - review - Music - Arts

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

For one so unassuming, he made a fair fist of it: a Michael Jackson impersonation before Slave To The Music - written when "I was stoned", apparently - was laugh-out loud funny, as was his assertion that "if I met anyone who didn't like Michael Jackson I couldn't carry on talking to them".

And when he shed his comfort blanket of a guitar on Nothing Ever Hurt Like You, which segued gloriously into Spencer Davis Group's I'm A Man, the diffident strummer became a cauldron of charisma, albeit one dressed by Chris Martin's stylist.

Person I Should Have Been evoked Sting's Shape Of My Heart, and Morrison seemed to be trying to channel Otis Redding on Right By Your Side. He's building a durable body of work and his voice has a throaty catch which gave even his less challenging material emotional authenticity.
A backing singer stood in for Jessie J on Up, while on a stripped down Broken Wings, Nelly Furtado's part was dispensed with altogether, proving once again that less can mean more.

Like everyone who doesn't quite understand how to harness their gifts, Morrison sometimes looked lost. But when he let himself go, that bigger stage was his. Things may get more fascinating still ...

James Morrison