Concert Review: Keb Mo at Union Chapel, London

Chris Griffiths
6 minutes ago
2 min read

There's a particular kind of quiet that only certain rooms can hold, and Union Chapel in Islington is one of them. Stone, stained glass, wooden pews worn soft by decades of use as both a chapel and live events venue. On this merit alone it sounds sacred, so add Keb' Mo', a guitar and a harmonica and you know you’re in for something very special.

The acoustic set was delicate and uncomplicated, his lyrics penetrating the space full of heart and humour. Life Is Beautiful warm and unhurried; the kind of song that makes a packed room go suddenly still. Every Morning was stripped of anything but conviction, while Standin' At The Station carried a looser, wry energy that pulled a few knowing laughs from the pews. Between songs he talked easy, the narrative as much a part of the set as the playing itself, drawing humour one minute and quiet reflection the next.

There is a sense of wonder in watching someone this accomplished make what they do look so effortless, which when joined by the setting sun behind the stained-glass windows truly created something of a magical aesthetic. We witnessed the result of decades of craft distilled into a single guitar line, and a voice that's lived every word it sings. By the time Put A Woman In Charge closed things out, Keb' Mo' had the whole chapel exactly where he wanted it.

There's a temptation to call this kind of performance effortless, but that undersells it. It's the opposite. Years of craft compressed into something that looks like ease. Keb' Mo' made stripping everything back look like the natural state of things, rather than a choice a performer can make.