Good cuts small talk, mesmerizes London fans with vocals

Matthew Good thrilled London fans with a gratifying performance at Centennial Hall Wednesday night. Good captivated the audience with true-to-recording vocals and a diverse set list that covered many aspects of his extensive work.

The show’s opening act, Mother Mother, has received attention from the press recently for their unique indie style music. Each member’s on-stage enthusiasm contributed to an entertaining but brief performance. The audience’s positive reception to their act served as an indication this band is going places.

Good’s performance focused primarily on his latest solo album Vancouver, but he also interspersed crowd favourites into his set.

Good opened with a new and mellow number, “On Nights Like Tonight.” The audience quietly remained in their seats while Good mesmerized them with his vocals.

HOW GOOD DOES THAT SOUND? Matthew Good captivated fans Wednesday evening with tracks off his new album Vancouver. (Laura Barclay/Gazette)

As the night progressed, Good’s lead guitarist frequently stole the crowd’s attention, with a single spotlight on him during key performances magnifying his talent. Although Good had a guitar of his own, the instrument was a mere accent to his commanding voice.

It was not until the fifth number, “Load Me Up,” that the audience finally got to their feet. The guitar and percussion-heavy song from the days of the Matthew Good Band sounded just like the original recording. Fans were visibly ecstatic.

The venue was packed and the audience remained beyond attentive by following Good’s lead. When he rocked out, fans went wild. When he toned down the performance for a softer song, the audience quietly observed.

The length of Good’s performance was ideal. He managed to keep the audience engaged throughout the entire show, and by limiting banter with the audience, he managed to play an extensive set-list. Although the 38-year-old is reputably comedic, this time fans were entertained solely by the music.

Good graciously accepted the audience’s wild applause at the end of the show, proving that despite success from a 15 year-long career, he remains grounded. Good’s strong performance— along with the audience’s obvious satisfaction from the show — hopefully indicates he isn’t leaving the music industry anytime soon.