Cosmo Jarvis Live Review

This was published on the Electric-Banana website over a month ago, forgot to put it up here.

Here's the link: http://www.electric-banana.co.uk/reviews/live-reviews/cosmo-jarvis-the-lexington-london/

And here's the article...

What’s this?
Cosmo Jarvis continues his ever-so-gradual ascendency to recognition with an impressively professional show at The Lexington, London.


What was it like?
A man of few words, most of them awkward, Cosmo Jarvis’ thoughts and feelings have been uncompromisingly delivered unto us via three albums and a stream of internet freebies. So prolific has the career of Jarvis been that, at the (barely) post-acne age of 23, he’s also managed to bombard YouTube with a ton of self-created short films. You know, just to pass the time between writing, scoring, directing and acting in a BBC-championed feature film, The Naughty Room. And you thought that promotion to Assistant Team Leader was something to shout about.

You would forgive Jarvis for turning up to the Lexington a tad dishevelled, then. But, with sleepless bags for life under his eyes, he anonymously sweeps the pre-show floor of this live music staple, greeting familiar fans and friends alike with admirable enthusiasm. Another night, another show. Maybe this would be the night that Cosmo’s tired eyes would force the music world to wake up. No? Never mind. On we go…

Wille and the Bandits perform a hugely impressive support set, their reggae and blues-tinged roots rock displaying the genre-hopping tendencies that Jarvis himself has been criticised for in the past. With Think Bigger, his third LP, that musical malleability didn’t change, though you could sense a growing professionalism, with refined pop hooks and more mature song-writing. Often dark, often humorous, Jarvis’ quirkily intriguing persona shone most accessibly on this latest offering.

Opening with three singles, ‘Sure as Hell Not Jesus’, ‘Love This’ and ‘She Doesn’t Mind’, the crowd dynamics can be swiftly gauged: largely 15-30 year olds, intelligent-looking, sober. There are no screams of girlish adoration, no sweat-drenched crowd surfers, but the opening numbers are well-received and the atmosphere infectious. When it comes to talking between songs, Cosmo Jarvis is definitely no Jarvis Cocker, but this palpable discomfort only warms the crowd to him more. He still remains the most charismatic man on stage by some distance, though his backing band is becoming a tighter unit with every show.

Think Bigger track ‘Whatever’ translates disappointingly to the live stage, as disinterested background chatter threatens to dampen the strong start. As expected, however, the strength of the tunes carries the band through with ‘Train Downtown’. A pocket of fans at the front begin to make their presence known, and as long as you don’t look behind, you’d think Jarvis was bringing the house down. The playful punk of ‘Good Citizen’ prompts the tamest mosh-pit ever witnessed, but it all suggests that Jarvis is finally amassing a live following that might propel him to the bigger stages.

The unrivalled euphoria of that moment is quelled by a modified version of Think Bigger’s title track. Utterly captivating though it was (and perhaps better than the studio version), Jarvis would have been wiser to keep the raucous momentum going. Thankfully, the ‘new’ songs, which he scatters throughout the set, have been available online for some time, so the crowd’s fickleness circa ‘Whatever’ doesn’t return. Elsewhere, ‘Sunshine’ proves to be a real live spectacle, while ‘Look at the Sky’ exhibits Jarvis at his lyrical zenith.

What’s the final Verdict?
So consistently contagious and personal is his discography that he doesn’t need frills to be thrilling. Visibly drained, with bags under the eyes drooping ever lower, Cosmo Jarvis stays behind to chat with familiar fans and friends alike. Another night, another show. You get the impression that Jarvis will not sleep well until he gets what he deserves.

4/5