LIVE: Adam Cleaver - 'Man Or Beast' EP launch @ The Old Queen's Head, Islington 03.09.15

On Wednesday night, Adam Cleaver performed to a small but passionate crowd at The Old Queen’s Head in Islington. The venue’s ornate upper-floor was the perfect backdrop for the launch of his new EP Man Or Beast. Released on Veta Records, the four tracks are a combination of alternative songs that showcase Cleaver’s natural vocal ability.

Surrounded by shabby-chic decor and flickering candles on crowded tables, three songwriters took to the stage to celebrate the occasion: Nick Edward Harris, Benjamin Yellowitz and, of course, Cleaver himself. Despite a few minor technical difficulties with the sound mixing, the three acts looked comfortable and confident in their abilities whilst on stage.

Nick Edward Harris opened the evening and played a selection of his songs. Before playing ‘Calm Your Demons’, Harris joked to the crowd: “This is a song about religion, which is always popular” – before correcting himself – “the topic that is – not the song. Nobody knows the song“. His balanced humour and skills on harmonica and guitar naturally won over the small but appreciative crowd. Clearly a talented guitarist, Harris showed off his superb finger-picking and was accompanied by two musicians playing horn and cello.

Benjamin Yellowitz followed Harris with his energetic, acoustic-led set. Yellowitz lamented the absence of his drummer, but with his bassist and keyboard player sharing the stage, the lack of percussion wasn’t detrimental to the performance. The crowd listened intently and reciprocated with raucous applause after each song.

Headliner Adam Cleaver closed the evening with powerful renditions of his songs. The highlight of the night was eponymous tack ‘Man Or Beast’, but ‘The Salt Mine’ was also executed with stunning vocal precision. Cleaver’s ability to hold extended notes, and the ease with which he changes pitch, had the room captivated.

When a member of the crowd accidentally smashed a glass during the set, Cleaver managed to make a joke of it, commenting that the timing almost perfectly matched the note he was singing.

The accommodating nature of both band and crowd filled The Old Queen’s Head with an atmosphere of pure admiration and appreciation. Listeners gladly accepted copies of Man Or Beast from Cleaver after the show – proving the launch had been a complete success.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut