Having come to this gig expecting Paloma Faith to attract a young crowd, her Cardiff audience in fact skewed older, though with a good age range evident. We were greeted with a pared-back stage, a simple, blowsy curtain as the backdrop. A week earlier, I’d seen Erasure, and their venue-high visuals, twin video screens, and huge explosive confetti-piñata were nowhere to be seen – although small strands of the paper bomb were still floating about as a tiny, tickling reminder. I wondered if someone of Faith’s status ‘making do’ with such a set was a consequence of the pandemic.
“Her songs and personality can fill a stage and entrance a room”
In any case, opening act Josef Salvat gave the audience his all. I’d not heard of the artist before, but when his piece Diamonds came up, I recognised it. Salvat’s song, over a couple of uploads, has over 10 million views on YouTube. It’s a great tune, and Salvat’s others were similarly well penned, and powerfully vocalised. An artist to look up again, for sure.
Paloma Faith greeted us dressed head to toe in silver sequins, looking like a glitter ball, and I understood why the set was so minimalist. Her presence, due to her costume, was amplified, though her songs and personality can fill a stage and entrance a room. Standing – she told us – at five feet four, her stature arguably adds to her energy and charisma. When Faith namechecked Prince, a mentor to her, it made sense – there was a similar ‘pocket rocket’ element to that diminutive diva.
The songs themselves were just great, but more than this, Faith is a funny and intelligent raconteur between songs. I’ve seen stand-up comedians who weren’t half as good. Charisma, charm and wit were unexpected elements of the event, and it made the evening a standout performance for me. The wrought, tuneful melodies and singer’s soaring vocal abilities meanwhile were excellent, but this extra addition made the star personable and likeable.
A top gig that turned this reviewer from a Paloma Faith liker into a Paloma Faith fan – I even bought a t-shirt. Paloma Faith is a rare star. I recommend catching her onstage as soon as you can.
Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Mon 18 Oct
words MAB JONES photos KEVIN PICK
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