Nothing short of electrifying, Magnus Berg stepped onto the stage at the O2 Kentish Town Forum, supporting the soulful blues rock master Gary Clark Jr.
With a captivating repertoire of engagingly developed songs, sharp, bluesy licks and capricious riffs, Berg brought crackling energy and pure joy, setting the tone for the night with his exciting recipe of blues and psychedelic rock.
His set featured a mix of older tracks and newer material, notably showcasing songs from his forthcoming album Electric Sugar. What stood out most was his sheer love of performing; he offered everything he had and more, captivating the increasingly engaged audience with every song (especially given the challenge of performing ahead of an icon like Clark Jr). There was no doubt—Berg gave it his all.
The three musicians on stage are a masterclass in connection, cohesion and communication. With mutual acceptance that Berg is in his own time and space, drummer and bass player are clearly loving what they do, loving their ability to produce sound like this and share this showcase of virtuosic interrelation.
Berg’s sheer musical talent is breath-taking to watch and his guitar work is exceptional – it is obvious that he loves to perform and share. Both technical prowess and emotive sensitivity are here, while searing solos combine the raw power of his blues influences with the experimental sounds he’s been exploring recently. His performance of Save Them Kids from Electric Sugar displayed his growth as both a musician and a songwriter, balancing gritty blues riffs with a modern psychedelic twist. The crowd, perhaps taken by surprise, responded with enthusiastic cheers, clearly impressed by the Norwegian’s talent.
Vocally, Berg’s raspy tone, steeped in blues tradition, carried a depth that belied his age. Despite the stage being set further back than usual, the intimacy with the audience was clearly evident. His rendition of Love Smile further highlighted his appreciation for musical history while reimagining it for a contemporary audience. Mid set, Berg takes a minute to tell us he is out of breath, explaining “I’m from Norway- we don’t play gigs like this!”
And then he is off again, fingers flying over the frets, his guitar part of him. We can feel our own finger pads stinging as he executes one perfectly intricate riff after another; his know exactly where they’re going and how to get there. This is his place, his offering, his raison d’etre. It is Magnus Berg’s thing. As he surges towards the end of his performance here tonight, a heavy, ponderous and all-consuming climax throbs its way around The Forum, leaving us all a bit breathless…
Supporting Gary Clark Jr. is no easy feat, but Magnus Berg held his own at the O2 Forum and left the audience eager for more. His stage presence was commanding, and his musicality was both fresh and rooted in the legacy of the blues. This performance solidified his place as an artist to watch in the years to come.
Magnus Berg played The Forum 15.10.24
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