I wonder how long people will continue to read reviews of Mark Kozalek gigs where the general patterns are, does he want to be here and is it really such an exhausting effort for him to perform for us.
The message barked down the line outside the Union Chapel last night was “no photography of any type including mobile phones, no recording. Anyone caught will lead to the cancellation of the gig”
On stage at 7.55pm and it was actually great not to see a field of mobile phones in the air taking pictures! One song in then Mark calls for his jacket. One more song and he takes objection to the water bottles on the floor and puts them on the table. Next song, then he is hot and in need of a towel which no one can find. “I sold 850 tickets tonight and I can’t get a towel” so, you get the drift.
What has to be said is that Mark Kozalek is a brilliant guitarist. His songs and unexpected covers of songs carry intense or even downright darkly humorous lyrics delivered with that unique voice.
Those hard Union Chapel pews kept us fairly alert during a set that broke two hours. So at the end of the day I wonder if Mark Kozalek is really just joking with us at his live concerts, did he really need that stage lights lowered that much?
Anyhow until I can figure that one out, I might just stick with Mark Kozalek recorded, rather than live.
Pete
New covers album out 19 Feb 2013
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