Glasgow's OVO Hydro witnessed a sea of extravagant headwear this week as acid jazz pioneers Jamiroquai brought their slick live show to the city. The audience embraced the band's legacy act status with a dazzling array of fluffy, oversized, and sparkly hats, paying sartorial tribute to frontman and noted millinery enthusiast Jay Kay.
A Legacy Act in Full Flow
The sole founding member on stage, Jay Kay, proved his vocal prowess remains undimmed more than three decades into his career. The setlist spanned the band's history, from their 1993 debut 'Emergency on Planet Earth' to new material slated for release next year. Kay himself cycled through an impressive four different hats during the performance.
However, the transition from studio to stage proved challenging for many tracks. The performance highlighted a recurring issue: the band's reliance on polished production. Key elements of fan favourites were lost in the live mix. The sweeping strings of 'Little L' were buried, and the driving beats of disco-leaning anthem 'Canned Heat' lacked their usual punch.
Stage Dynamics and Sound Issues
The stage design, reminiscent of a vintage Vegas act with the backing band arranged on cascading levels, seemed to constrain the famously energetic frontman. Jay Kay was constantly in motion, shuffling in place and bouncing on monitors, but never appeared to have sufficient space to fully unleash his dynamic stage presence. His engaging banter with the Glasgow crowd—including attempts at Scottish vernacular—suggested he wished he could join them on the floor.
Even when contending with minor sound issues, the band's professionalism was never in doubt. They are an extremely polished live act. Yet, as the review noted, 'there’s no thrill in polish.' This technical proficiency sometimes came at the expense of emotional depth.
Substance Sacrificed for Sheen
This lack of visceral impact was felt across several numbers. 'Cloud 9' aimed for gospel heights but felt shallow, while 'Tallulah' incorporated funk elements yet lacked genuine sensuality. The tribute 'Disco Stays the Same' missed the transcendent, euphoric core of the genre it references.
Ultimately, for the devoted audience, this critique mattered little. As with many beloved legacy acts, the crowd was there to celebrate songs they have loved for years. The audience adored every moment and will likely continue to do so as long as Jay Kay and his accomplished band perform them competently. The band has no need to convert non-believers; their place in the hearts of their fans is secure.
Jamiroquai's tour continues, with a next scheduled performance at the Co-Op Live in Manchester on 6 December.
