Writer: John Callaghan
We go to gigs and concerts and performances and what we get is normally predictable: A structured show with some plotted emotional highs, a bit of a story or a theme running through it. Which is lovely, of course. But it’s great to have people like John Callaghan around to illustrate that a well-planned and practised show can sometimes buck that expectation and deliver blasts of chaos and spontaneity while keeping a tight rein on setlist and pacing. Structure is great, but it’s nice sometimes to embrace chaos.
John’s an electronic musician and video artist. These songs in his hour-long set are lyrically intriguing and deal with all manner of subjects from love to mental health and self-confidence. He sings live and in front of music videos projected on the wall behind him, though “sings” is maybe too light a description. He does sing, but he also showcases an eclectic and bizarre range of outfits (two inflatable, some created with glue, mirrors, and lights) and brings the audience into his world within this tiny room with an easy charisma.
These songs are a mix. Maybe electro music isn’t to everyone’s taste but these lyrics should be. Inventive, creative and heartfelt they run from the totally abstract to straight-down-the-line emotionally-charged ballads which hit home in an unexpectedly direct way.
That said, some of the singing is a little sketchy – he comes across as a great performer, not a soloist. This is clearly the show of a man well used to an audience. The act has been built over the years with some songs that are introduced as written in his university days, and backing videos are from songs recorded in 2009 or years earlier. That’s not a bad point, to be clear. It’s uniquely impressive to have a video of yourself from over 25 years ago singing backing vocals to a song that has stood the test of time. It’s all enhanced by his little asides and comments to the audience between the songs which are consistently charming, funny and warm.
It’s not a show for everyone. The chaos and air of general disarray may not appeal but it’s very much the sort of thing that could build a loyal fanbase and cult following. It must be hard for newcomers, but an evening at John Callaghan’s Cabaret Electro could be worth a pop to see something off-the-wall and unexpected that doesn’t reach into the gimmickry and attention-seeking.
Runs until 10 August 2023
Camden Fringe runs until 27 August 2023
