Trio at the Paradise Puts on Pitch-Perfect Performance

Think a crazy, sexy combo of John Legend, Mika and the Passion Pit wearing tight black pants and rocking a frohawk. Think small crowd, good show. Think, and this is just the opener?

If you’re thinking that it couldn’t get better than that, you’d almost be right. Except then following Gordon Voidwell’s opening act comes the first headliner, The Heavy, all grunge, soul, and rock n’ roll. The British band belts out their tunes and lead singer Kelvin Swaby wiggles and grinds around the stage, daring the crowd to match his energy.

And then Mayer Hawthorne comes out, all 50s style, love songs and retro beats, and tells you what you’ve been thinking all along: this isn’t a concert, it’s a show. And Hawthorne keeps the energy high for the next hour, getting the crowd dancing, clapping and singing along to his happy-go-lucky songs.

The three-hour show happened at the Paradise on Tuesday, October 19. It was an 18+ crowd, mostly college kids or a little older, which helped contribute to the show’s explosive energy.

The show itself was an unusual amalgamation of talent, from Gordon Voidwell’s funky/new wave opener to The Heavy’s hard rock performance to Mayer Hawthorne’s smooth set that didn’t leave the room silent for a second. The collection of artists was admittedly a little odd, but after a while it made sense: they all have soul. The first two acts also did well building up to Hawthorne’s, which was not only longer, but slightly more polished as well.

Despite some sound difficulties, The Heavy got to show off the best of their two studio albums. Swalby’s smooth voice paired unusually well with the typical rock group, aided by the trio of brass instruments. Like Voidwell and Hawthorne, Swalby put on a performance, rocking out with the band, banging around the stage and incorporating the audience with jokes and shout-outs. By the end of the group’s set, Swalby pumped up the audience so much that he was literally shaking off sweat as he danced.

Hawthorne came on fifteen minutes later and the mood instantly changed from near-mosh-pit to smooth dance party. His band, who he calls “The County,” were dressed in matching red cardigans and white button-ups with skinny black ties and converse, looking like they walked straight out of Pleasantville. Mayer himself was dressed up in a suit and red tie, completing the look with a squeaky-clean pair of Nike dunks.

Mayer Hawthorne’s set transitioned smoothly from song to song, with him talking over musical interludes to keep the audience grooving. He covered “Gangsta Luv” by Snoop Dogg, played his most popular songs (“It Ain’t Gonna Work Out” and “Maybe So, Maybe No” among them), and also new releases such as “No Strings”.

Much like his songs, Hawthorne is a sweet and unusual guy, and his dedication to not only his art and his performance but also to his fans came through. He alerted the crowd to two free downloads, including one written and performed by his guitarist, “Ruthless”. Hawthorne also surprised an audience member with a copy of his heart-shaped vinyl for “It Ain’t Gonna Work Out”/“When I Said Goodbye”.

Overall, the show left nothing to be desired. Think the best concert you’ve ever seen, then multiply it exponentially. Think the perfect show. Think Gordon Voidwell, The Heavy and Mayer Hawthorne.