Live Review: Cody ChesnuTT, Cheap Fakes, MKO

With a great sound and vibe in tow, MKO open tonight's proceedings on a positively high note. They do well in fusing their electro-pop with groovin' R&B offerings, but it is their ability to effectively slide into smooth atmospheres lined with assaults of deep bass that really brings the fruit to the fore.

The reggae-funk of Cheap Fakes goes over a treat, adding a little extra bit of diversity to the night. Their high-spirited attitude makes them fit wonderfully into the middle slot, and their set manages to keep the room smiling brightly.

The last time Cody ChesnuTT graced our stages, back in 2006, it was a rather reserved solo offering. Tonight, however, he has a stunnning four-piece band behind him, and is anything but reserved. He simply ignites the room from the moment he walks on stage, his signature helmet atop his head, and delivers the electrifying opener That's Still Mama. As soon as the music permeates the room the crowd gets busy on beams of sonic elation. While the band weaves a wonderful tapestry that is both tight and flexible, ChesnuTT certainly remains the key. He moves with a dramatically impassioned form of expressionism that is not only captivating, but downright infectious. At times it's as if his movements take cues from luminaries such as Michael Jackson, yet he seems to infuse and surrender these gestures into those of vulnerable moments that seem beyond the sterilising storms of gazing eyes and media-light. 

Not content to rest on past laurels, the set focuses almost entirely on his latest record Landing On A Hundred. Many of these soul stirring songs become redefined in the live setting – Everybody's Brother, What Kind Of Cool and Love Is More Than A Wedding Day each come in expanded forms that shine new light on their studio counterparts. While there are many moments of engagement, it all peaks during Where Is All The Money Going when ChesnuTT gets down amongst the crowd, and then once back on stage, proceeds to conduct the room in unison through both whispered and sung repetitions of the chorus. And as if it all wasn't already enough, a rather touching 'Thank You' song bids farewell. It is quite the cliché to read of an artist spouting their dedication to render each lyric with true heart and soul, yet through this performance ChesnuTT proves himself to be one of the rare few that walk the walk.