The Louisiana, April 6th 2022
Openers, Soft Launch, are an acoustic duo including one of CMAT’s guitarists. They explain that they are “not a band & this is a soft launch” before beginning a six-song set which includes cover versions of Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights” & Scissor Sisters’ “Laura” which goes down particularly well with the midweek crowd.
The stage is punctuated with cardboard cartoon cut-outs similar to the striking artwork used consistently across the singer’s releases to date. CMAT is here in support of her debut album “If My Wife New I’d Be Dead” which went to Number 1 in the Irish albums chart last month. That impressive album may only be a few weeks old, but it’s clear from the outset that it’s already attracted a devoted popstar-like fanbase. Excited fans dressed in cowboy hats & boots flock to the very front of the stage before Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” plays out across the venue generating the sort of reaction usually reserved for weekend shows. Setting the tone for the high camp, country-influenced pop songs which follow.
CMAT begins with the album’s opening track “Nashville” which is greeted with a word-for-word singalong from the front rows. Her voice is sizeable & at times it appears like she is consciously toning It down to not overpower the backing band. When she gets to let loose on an acoustic performance of unreleased song “Rent’, the full extent of her vocal range Is evidenced. A incredibly engaging performer that makes Louisiana’s relatively small stage seem much bigger as she energetically parades. She asks the crowd if they like bangers” or are “in the wrong room” before launching into “Groundhog day” & then album highlight “Peter Bogdanovich”
Recent singles “No More Virgos” & “Every Bottle (Is MyBoyfriend)” feel like gigantic pop classics which are heightened by MAT’s popstar entrance adjustedfor The Louisiana’s intimate surroundings (she jokingly crouches to the ground & slowly stands asit emerging trom a trap door at a stadium show.)
Final song “I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby!” Is the perfect end from an artist who is only going to get bigger from here
Ryan Simmonds
Craig J Simmonds Media
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