Mayer Hawthorne and the County brought neo-soul to Park West. Promising not just a concert but a show, from beginning to end, the band provided almost 95 minutes of pure music.
Swaggering onto the stage in a black suit, bow tie and with Red McFly Back to the Future High tops, with red lit laces, the bespectacled crooner melted hearts and had everyone burning up the dance floor just as much as the crowd sang along to the lyrics of his songs.
Starting the show with the up-beat ‘You Called Me’ and a screaming response from fans for his most recent tongue in cheek ‘The Walk’ to the sultry smooth sounds of their take of ‘Rico Suave’ and falling into the falsetto of ‘Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out’ or remaking a poppy version of Daryll Hall & John Oates’ “You Make My Dreams Come True.”
Hawthorne and the County kept up the beat of the tunes with sing-a-longs, calls and responses and easy to follow choreography, that even the self-proclaimed non-dancers were sliding and two-steppin’ to the beat. Mayer Hawthorne is truly an inspired, talented and eclectic performer, rounding out old school beats and tune with new sounds. Definitely a live show worth watching and one to watch again!