Review: Joy Mumford – Jamcafe – 20 February 2014

It’s always interesting going into Jamcafé. You never quite know what to expect from the gigs there, and Thursday 20^th February proved to be another one of those days. At first, it was relaxed and chilled, with tables and candles and a nice little crowd… Fast forward an hour or so, and the room is completely buzzing with people dancing and cheering. It’s always an adventure, and this gig proved to be just that.

PATRICK PLUNKETT opened the proceedings with a bang, bringing one great original after another. He has a great voice, which is strong and secure but with vulnerabilities and a sweet tone. The chorus pretty much sums up the song “we had the MTV dream, we were only fourteen, though we never got far, the dream’s burning bright in our hearts”. The chorus is very catchy, with a lighthearted feel possibly due to the classic melody/chord structures. It’s a lovely track, and certainly makes for a great single.

Although Patrick Plunkett obviously enjoys the acoustic genre, and his vocals are well suited to it, at times I can’t help but feel that his voice and sometimes his songs could also sit comfortably in front of a rock band, he is truly versatile. He also appears to be very comfortable on the stage, and his voice doesn’t falter at all which shows his professionalism. Another song which was particularly ear catching was indeed called Attracting Attention, which is apt. The melodies and chords are simple but have a sweetness in their simplicity, which is enhanced by sweet lyrics such as “always attracting attention, you’re too beautiful to mention, I get lost, I think I’m losing you”. The delivery is passionate and honest, and it is followed by another great number called Hooked On Desire, which depicts how he is “crazy in love/crazy in pain”. The song is cheerful, although the lyrics show a whole different story. “I can’t let you out of my head, would you let me get into you instead” are the main lyrics of the bridge section, which shows his pain, but the major key and pop style melodies contradict these, which creates a juxtaposition which works well for the song.

Closing the set on Change, Patrick ends on a sadder note than the previous numbers, which personally I prefer. The chords are contemplative and reflective, fitting the chorus well with lyrics “when I came back I was changed, I’m bruised but in a good way, I know that I’m alive”. Although the song features the painful side of love, its intrinsically optimistic, ending the set on a delicate and powerful tone.

Next to take to the stage were KANE ASHMORE followed by REBECCA KING, however, due to their EP launch two days later at The Lacehouse, they asked me to review that gig instead, which you can read HERE. However, I will say that their acoustic performances separately and together were both laid back and although a little haphazard, were fun and enjoyable. Read my review of the Rebecca King EP launch HERE.

Finally, headlining the evening was JOY MUMFORD, a fantastic performer, who happened to bring in the most ridiculous crowd. There were so many fans arriving all at one at one point in the evening that it seemed like a totally endless stream of them coming through the Jamcafé doors! But they gathered for good reason, as her performance was truly awesome. Opening her set she played Attention, a song which certainly grabbed the audience’s attention with Joy’s strong vocals and excellent stage presence. She was accompanied by her band consisting of drums, bass and electric guitar while she sang and played acoustic guitar. This number was a great opener, paving the way to a wonderful cover of Neon by John Mayer, which moved the set into a really funky place. There are notably good electric guitar and bass parts that build up the foundations of the song, allowing for Joy’s beautiful vocals to sing the subtly rising melodies, which build anticipation for the chorus, where she erupts into soulful singing, it is truly a beautiful rendition.

Next up she dons her acoustic guitar for another original entitled My Child, which changes the pace of the set, with ethereal and heavily reverberated electric guitar, this creates a spaciousness (even in a packed Jamcafé!) and allows the clarity of Joy’s vocals to shine through. The soulful and painful chorus “this song will isolate you, violate you, talk lies to you. I’m here to separate you, remake you” is made more poignant by her crystal clear and soulful vocals which pierce through the ethereal accompaniment, and it works incredibly well. The song is truly beautiful and honest, with heartbreaking melodies and in the absence of the other band members (except for the occasional atmospheric cymbal roll), the vocal lines have even more weight and importance, and this makes it even sadder, and more gorgeous. Following this song with another original called The Fall is another sombre and heartbreaking number about the falls endured during relationships, with lovely chords and soulful, sad melodies which are made more so by the tone of Joy’s voice and her gorgeously honest and heartfelt lyrics; “but you took the fall, I could have had it all, you gave me everything even when I turned away. I had missed it all when you took the fall, but now I would give it all for you, I would give it all for love.” The relationship between the lyrics and the music are unique and it becomes apparent to me how incredible her band are, they are so smooth and professional, and seem truly invested in what they’re playing, and their passion and dedication seems to really come through. The sadness of the song is respected, and the communication between Joy and her band is strong and they are well connected. It’s a beautiful number.

At first, the next song begins gently, with electric guitar and bass playing quietly, then as the drums come in, it livens up a bit, flourishing into a lovely cover of Sunday Morning by Maroon 5. It is relaxed but still picks up the pace from the last couple of sadder numbers. The chilled nature of the cover really flaunts her vocals though, and her stage presence is great as she makes eye contact with the audience and is having a nice time up there, dancing and enjoying herself. She is still very involved with what she is singing though, and is hugely entertaining. After this number, she announces that the next one is to be her last, which received a huge objection from the crowd who loves her, they are obviously keen to hear a lot more. This final number called I Had To Go is another funkier song, with great guitar and bass riffs driving the song forward, and complementing her passionate and clear vocals. Again Joy is dancing on stage, and as the rhythm and the vocal melodies build, the song then erupts with a huge amazing funkiness which is just so infectiously awesome that you can’t help but feel oh so very funky.

Of course that was not the final number, and she gives the audience exactly what they want with another song. Going for a more traditional, 90’s pop feel, Joy Mumford opts for an encore of Wannabe by the Spice Girls. However this cover has definitely been tailored to Joy’s pleasures, and is a lot more soulful and funky than the original, especially with the repeated “that’s the way” in the chorus. The pedal work on the guitar also creates a very funky vibe, and the guitar solo is awesome, and shows off his musicianship. This cover breathed new life into a classic pop hit, and created a whole new way to enjoy the Spice Girls.

Joy is a truly charismatic and soulful performer, and isn’t afraid to explore various genres and interpret them in a unique way to accomplish her creative goals. She is fiery and timid at the same time, with heartbreaking lyrics she is vulnerable, but the accompanying music tends to be strong, funky and soulful which gives her a unique appeal. Her headline set at Jamcafé was incredible, and I can’t wait to see her perform again.

Review and photos by Cassia Helme