 | | Mr Hudson and The Library |
Firstly, their name is possibly the worst you’ll ever hear. Secondly, they look they’re high street fashion store’s sweetest fantasy, having a distinctively unbelievable ‘too cool for school’ look. Lastly, and probably most importantly for their shows outside the capital, they are so hopeless London in their sound, it’s hard to imagine it working anywhere other than Camden. So, to find that they’re one of the most accessible and enjoyable live bands playing anywhere at the moment is, to say the very least, a massive shock. They’re helped by their choice of support. Palladium look like British Sea Power’s little brothers let loose in the dressing up box, sound like The Go! Team soundtracking Grosse Point Blank, and warm the crowd up a treat. If they can be summed up, it’s in the fact that they’ve got no CDs to sell, only promotional earrings to give away!  | | Palladium |
Not that the audience needed any warming. From the moment the titular Mr Hudson steps on stage with his Library until the moment they leave, there’s a constant chorus of cheers, whoops and general jollity that greets every chord and beat. It’s a fair enough response. The tunes, some of which lack a vibrancy on their newly released debut album, leap and charge around the venue, filling the room with sunshine vibes and the kind of good feeling that chops the most cynical in two, not least because of the presence of Joy Joseph’s steel drum and Torville Jones’ brilliant piano. What makes them special, though, is lead singer Ben Hudson. He is equal parts cheeky and charming and a born front man. "Being an audience isn’t a competition," he grins at one point, "but if it was, you’re winning." Simple and slightly cheesy, it’s the kind of comment that wins over festival crowds in their hundreds. It might still be a ludicrous name, but truth is, we’d better get used to it. With this much ability and charm, Mr Hudson and the Library are on their way to the top. |
