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Review: CMAT, O2 Academy – ‘A masterclass in artistry’
CMAT is the modern country-slash-pop singer powerhouse. Characterised by poignant storytelling, witty humour and sharp social commentary, her music is heartfelt yet often satirical, her nearly two hour set at Bristol’s O2 Academy encompassing this on Monday night.
Tonight’s gig, originally planned for October, was rescheduled due to infected wisdom teeth (which she brought along to this year’s Mercury Prize – the most CMAT thing possible), and fans showed up with full enthusiasm – many dressed in eccentric outfits inspired by her.
Expect full chaos and a lot of fun when seeing our self-identifying Dunboyne Diana.
The show was a chaotic mix of song, dance, banter and hilarity
At 9pm prompt, The Very Sexy CMAT Band arrive onstage, playing an extended intro of Janis Joplining. The very-sold-out capacity scouts the academy for the star herself, confused expressions washing over the audience before a cry of “I’m over here!”
A spotlight identifies her, standing on the right-side balcony in a sheer, mesh blue dress, where she sings the first half of the track from latest album EURO-COUNTRY, which has undeniably launched her further into pop stardom.
The crowd erupts into an intense cheer as she runs off, appearing centre-stage to continue the song seconds later.
CMAT performed full pelt for nearly two hours, saying towards the end that she needed to “pretend to collapse”
The band launch straight into the tongue-in-cheek The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station before early single with an equal smattering of her trademark irony, I Don’t Really Care For You, which is rounded off with onstage line-dancing.
Things go off-piste from there on. CMAT addresses her crowd in a spot-on Bristolian accent, which she continuously picks back up throughout the show, asking her crowd how they’re doing “my darlin’s”, before an audience member requests she says “gurt lush”, which she screams down the mic before asking what it means. “You’re gurt lush!” is the definition she receives.
Instantly she’s distracted again, this time by an audience member wearing an exact replica of the costume she wore at this year’s Glastonbury where she performed on the Pyramid Stage, right down to the shoes.
The girl is holding a sign requesting a non-setlist song, CMAT confiding in the Very Sexy CMAT Band, explaining this will “ruin their night” before an impromptu rendition of Aw, Shoot! followed by a brief cover of Sports Car by Tate McRae.
The country-pop singer was happy to engage with the crowd, putting on a deliberate Bristol twang which appeared to delight fans
The silliness continues from here, CMAT telling the story of how when she played Thekla her and the band all ended up with Covid but entirely delivered as an improvised song, before giving the audience a choice between Iceberg and Coronation St., two fan favourites from EURO-COUNTRY.
To her band’s dismay, she just plays both to keep everyone happy.
While amusing to watch, it’s testament to the sheer talent of CMAT’s band and their ability to play songs they haven’t, sometimes, in years, with only a brief utterance of “what key are we in?” before giving the people what they want.
Recalling how she met a fan named Ben earlier in the day, who requested she play California, the opener to her sophomore record, Crazymad, For Me which she admits she had forgotten about, she throws this into the mix too, explaining how setlists don’t have to be adhered to.
CMAT made full use of the venue, running around the stage and balconies
“I need to find a good place to pretend to collapse!” she frantically exclaims, before taking to the platform upstage and lying there so her head dangles down, then performing Have Fun!
She commands her audience with ease and an effortless sense of humour, her quick delivery making for a hilariously captivating performance.
And it’s wholly reciprocal: her audience, a mix of ages, all as equally up for it as each other, give her the same level of giddy elation as she embodies. Take the cornerstone of new single Take A Sexy Picture Of Me, for example, the TikTok viral track with its own accompanying dance routine – dubbed ‘the woke macarena’ – which everyone knows to passionately join in with.
She had stellar accompaniment from the ever-versatile Very Sexy CMAT Band
Following a brief encore, she returns to the stage for ethereal eponymous track, EURO-COUNTRY, breaking into her usual energy, dancing around, whipping her hair, and making full use of her stage as soon as the track picks up.
As she’s handed an acoustic guitar, she asks if there are any “stinky Bristol hippies” in tonight. Disappointed by the lack of cheering, she goes on to explain how this song is about all the “stinky Irish cowboys”, instructing the crowd to perform the “Dunboyne Two-Step” for I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!
With pure delight everyone in the Academy joins in, whether front row, on the balconies or seated. For almost five minutes, everybody in the room sways with the sonically more traditional country-style track of CMAT’s discography, and does not falter once, continuing until the final note rings out.
The crowd were ready to join in with the big group dance-alongs
Now suitably warmed up, it’s time for one final cathartic release. CMAT begins to explain how in her final song she sings “And they tell me I should hate you / Say, you put me through it / Lord, I know I used to”. Before she can finish, the crowd screams “But I just can’t do it!”
Defeated, she plays hit Stay For Something, the crowd completely carrying its entirety, not just the line she wanted the help with.
Motioning for a pathway to be created, she runs down the middle of the standing area, before racing up the stairs, briefly dancing on the first balcony and settling for the steps up to the top balconies where she stays for one more chorus. The entire affair lasts 15 minutes.
As she makes her return back to the stage, an overwhelming roar of applause ensues. Her Bristolian accent comes back, downplaying the honour.
CMAT’s live show is a masterclass in artistry, her personality and devotion to her craft making it impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere and euphoria. It’s CMAT (and the Very Sexy CMAT Band)’s world, and we’re just living in it.
All images: Katie Hillier
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