Reviews

When stranded in such an environment, it's very easy to not be particularly sympathetic towards things, people and places, so it's very lucky for Leslie Feist that she is one of these performers who it is impossible not to like.

Go on, try it. Not only is she engaging, sweet and good looking in that way that indie chanteuses can only be, but from the moment she walks on stage and starts trilling away in that deceptively sweet voice of hers, she manages to invoke an almost reverential hush over the crowd, many of whom have seen her before in this self same venue in her other capacity as the singer in Broken Social Scene.

And with a full band backing band in tow, Miss Feist certainly knows how to put on a show. For example, how many other gigs have you been to recently where the performer attempts - somewhat misguidedly it has to be admitted - to get the audience to sing a three part harmony? And how many gigs have you been to where everyone is afraid to breathe a word throughout the proceedings in case they miss anything? 

Feist is a consummate show-woman and, knowing that in such an environment an audience is inclined to become rattty, uses the intimacy of the venue to her advantage, grabbing you by the scruff of the neck and enveloping you in her every word.

Ending with the triumphant, splendiforous Mushaboom - a song which still has the capacity to be the soundtrack of the Mancunian summer - it would take a very hard heart indeed to not have a huge grin on your face and be at least a little bit in love with this woman and the world.