Live Review
Omar Apollo, KOKO, London
He’s a bonafide people-pleaser.
‘Tamagotchi’ rears it head twice, its first appearance in the late set elevating the temperature in the room dramatically, calling an end to the singer’s whimsical soul. However, its final appearance as a post-encore reprise, stirs up a frantic fervour in room, the crowd holding onto each word as if it was their own.
In the most part his set is moulded around ‘Ivory’, although his careful placements of the buoyant ‘Kickback’ from 2019 EP ‘Friends’ and the agreeably catchy ‘Ugotme’ from breakout 2018 release ‘Stereo’ are welcomed by clamorous applause.
His impossibly smooth vocals travel to the back wall of KOKO with the unwavering competence of a veteran performer, and when his flirty guitar licks are added to the equation, they only serve to prove that Omar is born to be here. He’s a bonafide people-pleaser, and a vocal advocate for his community, waving a Mexican Pride flag as his band tease the beginning of acoustic ballad ‘Bad Life’.
For some, it felt like he’d sleepwalked his way up. But tonight, his mellow aura proves its worth via the hundreds singing his words right back at him. As Omar Apollo hits all the right notes, his songs hit all the right nerves."}]
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