If there’s one thing that stands out about a performance by Aqualung (a.k.a. Matt Hales), it’s that the man has a personality factor of 10 billion. This is not to say that he’s not an absolutely amazing, beautiful songwriter first and foremost… he is. However, anyone who managed to procure his aptly titled American release, Strange And Beautiful, or either of his previous two UK releases, would already know this about him. After opening the set alone on stage, Matt quickly ran over to the second microphone to introduce his brother Ben Hales to accompany him and make a quip about the fanciness of his stage craft – moving from sitting to standing, back to sitting again and how his moves are much like, he’s sure, “Freddy Mercury’s”. Matt continued to play breathtaking renditions of “Breaking My Heart Again”, “Another Little Hole”, “If I Fall” and of course, “Brighter than Sunshine”. His performance is marked by serious and beautiful singing interspersed with adorably witty story-telling and audience interaction. At one point Matt Hales introduced “the newest member of the Aqualung team,” a strange blue plastic instrument that is equal parts kazoo, accordion and keytar in terms of both sound and functionality. Matt’s performance showcased not only his music, but a glimpse into the mind behind it which is really what you’re truly hoping for when you go to see a live performance. By the end of the show men and women alike were screaming “I love you!” to the point where he had to politely ask them to stop in order to keep playing. Matt’s performance can best be summarized in his own words “I’ll put a spell on you…I’ll be the first thing you see and you’ll realize that you love me.”
Source: Cara Heller
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