aaamusic | On 02, Oct 2011

London, 28th September

With leading UK magic acts preceding the headline music set by Mike Marlin, this particular evening was a little unusual and perhaps in a format that many in the audience had not previously experienced.

 

Close up strolling magic was provided by Scott Perry who interacted well with the audience and was a great crowd builder. He’s a committed sleight of hand musician, well travelled, with considerable experience and a wish to combine traditional techniques with modern styles.

 

An unsettled audience looked on as Dee Riley, once described as a combination of Derren Brown, Lady Gaga and Marilyn Manson, performed his daring mind reading spike trick. This was where a nasty spike was secretly hidden beneath one of 5 upturned plastic cups by a member of the audience. He then bashed them all to bits without causing harm to himself. Yes, all of them, not just 4!

 

Matt G, a mentalist, gave the impression that he could extract the deepest thoughts from peoples’ minds. When a member of the audience drew a tree on a sketchpad behind his back, he seemed to achieve the impossible when he guessed what the drawing was. The audience looked stunned and perplexed.

 

Dafedas B had a science fiction and martial arts feel to his magic. With great skill and expertise he made objects appear, disappear, alter their form, change their size and quickly multiply. Visually the act was energetic and impressive.

 

Mike Marlin’s debut album ‘Nearly Man’ launched earlier this year, received considerable support from radio stations. In this performance he debuted songs from his new album Man On The Ground.

Deviating from normal practice, Mark Marlin began with his new single The Magician. Of this he says:  ‘We know that magic is an illusion created by skill and trickery, but we agree to believe and applaud when the magician deceives us. The contract is unspoken but simple: “Lie to me, but don’t let me down”. The song is about the unspoken agreements in all relationships, or at least in the ones that work.’

This is a dark, personal and thought provoking album, sometimes sad but also passionate. It was presented enthusiastically and imaginatively in the magnificent surrounds of this scarce grade II* listed music hall theatre, presently awaiting preservation and restoration.

 

The Magician video features some of the most competent close up magicians in the UK today playing poker around a table. Set list: The Magician, Hymn To Disappointment, Play That Game, Heartbeat, Better, Girl From Chelsea Bridge, This Town, Lost & Found, Give It All.

Anthony Weightman.