Tabernacle | Stereo Jealousy

Despite being a band that essentially consists of one man, Neil Hannon has never actually toured solo before, or at least not since hitting the big time. Normally he’s seen on stage backed with anywhere up to 35 players. But – for his latest tour Hannon has unexpectedly gone back to basics; it’s just him, his piano and his guitar.

Hannon often comes across quite uneasy at the beginnings of concerts, taking a few songs to really get into the swing of things, but despite the added pressure of performing solo, he seems completely at ease at London’s rather intimate Tabernacle in Notting Hill. Things begin with a new number from upcoming release Bang Goes the Knighthood; it’s a clever little ditty called The Complete Banker. No prizes for guessing what that one’s about.

By stripping down the songs down to their basic elements, Hannon has the opportunity to show off just how well constructed his compositions are. Songs such as The Frog Princess are hard to imagine without their indulgent orchestrations, but by stripping them down to the basics, he proves just what a smart and skilled writer he is; each song can stand on its own, stripped down, without the big budget arrangements.

If there is a fault with his work often it can be too deliberate. When choosing to write about a certain subject, his choices can be too obvious, and his lyrics too predictable. New single, At The Indie Disco, is very much in this vein. It distinctly lacks the spontaneity of old; certain lines you can guess, and references to popular songs and performers are too carefully chosen to give the songs cult credibility. It’s just too planned and strategically delivered.

Hannon is at his best when he’s being clever. Although this has put people off his music (there’s no denying he’s a smart arse) it’s what’s always separated him from his peers. The other new material fairs better; I Like is based on such as simple idea, it’s hard to believe no one’s come up with it before. Can I Stand Upon One Leg is a funny, music hall-esque ditty, that gives him the chance to show off his party trick – the ability to hold a single high note for a ridiculously long amount of time.

Tonight, Hannon proves himself to be a great entertainer, able to captivate through both his music and his banter. Of course it always helps when you have a select small audience of people who are extremely well disposed towards you. He manages to put in at least one track from every album, making room for a few lesser played singles, Everyone Knows (Except You) and The Pop Singers Fear Of The Pollen Count. He also makes room for Duckworth Lewis favourite Jiggery Pokery and a cover of MGMT’s Time To Pretend. He fluffs up a number of times, but makes a good joke of it, keeping the audience very much on his side, using them as a prompt during one big slip-up.

For hardcore fans like myself who’d seen Hannon perform quite a few times before, this evening provided something refreshingly different. And with him at his most charming, we couldn’t have really asked for much more.

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