Having fallen in love with her debut album, the review of which is available here. I was really looking forward to the seeing the lady in person. I was not disappointed.
Margo came on stage to a warm welcome from a full capacity crowd at the Social Club. After the applause died down she said “let’s do this” she then opened her set with This Town Gets Around. This was met with a warm reception and everyone got into the gig very quickly.
Since You Put Me Down was the next song that was played. Observing the crowd I couldn’t help but notice everyone was finding it hard to stand still. With Margo’s sound being a very toe tapping sound it was very hard not to feel the music and want to do a little jig on the spot.
The venue itself was very intimate and this was reflected in the line up. Margo played the guitar, supported by a keyboard player. What the band lacked in quantity they made up for in quality. The keyboard player deserves a lot of credit for his performance. He managed to recreate the sound on the record, as best he could.
Other numbers that were played were About to Find Out, Four Years of Chances and This Town Gets Around. This song went down particularly well with the audience, as I think most of them had seen Margo perform this on Later with Jools Holland.
The highlight of the night, for me, was her performance of Weekender. This is my favourite song on the album. Listening to her live gave me and the audience a real opportunity to listen to her voice. Her voice is just as good live (if not better) than it is on the record. She has real power and control of her voice. Margo’s tone is perfect for the genre.
As well as playing the upbeat numbers, Margo demonstrated her sensitivity in writing and performing, by playing numbers such as Hands of Time and Desperate and Depressed. These songs showed Margo can write and perform slow numbers, just as well as the honky-tonk toe tapping tunes.
Margo also paid tribute to current and former artists such as Bob Dylan and George Jones. Playing these numbers was only too her credit and won her even more praise from the crowd.
This gig was essentially an introducing gig. As introducing gigs go, I can honestly say it’s the best one I’ve been to. The only criticism I would have is that it only lasted an hour.
Due to the small venue and the crowd numbers, I was lucky enough to meet the lady herself. She is a very warm and bubbly person. It was a pleasure to meet her.
Margo is performing in the UK in September at the End of The Road Festival. This performance will be with a full band. I hope this performance will be one of many in the UK.