10 October 2016 (gig)
11 October 2016
He played until his fingers bled. Well, right thumb, to be more precise.
Not using a plectrum for most of this Shepherd's Bush Empire gig, a bloodied Michael Kiwanuka left the stage to huge applause.
A set that began with a nod to prog-rock in expansive Cold Little Heart ended with the almost annoyingly catchy Love & Hate, the title track to Kiwanuka’s second record.
Not winning the Mercury Prize for that album last month may not have been such a bad thing for the shy singer-songwriter.
Following the recent announcement of a 2017 Royal Albert Hall show, this gig was a rare chance to see the north Londoner in a relatively intimate setting.
Flanked by a talented band and backing vocals, Kiwanuka increased the tempo with infectious clap-along Black Man in a White World. The former session musician for Chipmunk is adept on acoustic and electric guitar, the latter bearing the stains of his strumming.
One More Night is probably the 29-year-old’s most commercial offering.
You can hear a pin drop as Kiwanuka pays tribute to Prince with a respectful cover of the late star’s Sometimes it Snows in April for his encore.
From his 2012 Home Again debut album, I’m Getting Ready is timeless and its reception here proof that Kiwanuka has a loyal – and growing – following.
Someone should buy him a plectrum though.
