Music

Review: Emmy The Great stuns as Second Love tour stops in London

Emmy The Great is charming and charismatic as she headlines London’s Islington Assembly Hall.

Emmy-Lee Moss is, indeed, great. In fact, she’s witty, smart and so incredibly talented, we’re not quite sure what to do with all the positive energy that radiates from the singer-songwriter tonight.

Full of wit and totally unflappable 

Endearing and playful, Emmy commands the Islington Assembly Hall stage with little effort, proved simply as she responds to some well-intentioned (we assume) heckles with bundles of well-timed wit. It’s this same unflappable nature that sees her through a minor technical issue unhinged, as she covers guitarist Sean who’s busy battling some serious microphone feedback to her left.

Tonight’s support act, O Karmina, is equally charming as she takes up guest vocal throughout Emmy’s headline set; lending her delicate tones in parts and dancing along side-stage even when she’s off duty.

Emmy The Great

Photo: Jay Wennington

Constructing a captivating setlist 

Touring in support of her third album Second Love, Emmy constructs a setlist that shines real light on the record’s very best moments with Algorithm, Swimming Pool, Less Than Three and Dance w Me delivered in equally captivating measure.

Factor in a glittering disco ball and some less-is-more video montages, and Emmy is flawlessly understated as she steamrolls through the Thursday night set.

Refreshed and inspiring with reworked lyrics about David Bowie

Social Halo is a standout moment, with Emmy reminiscing about living in Hong Kong – including an educational moment where she compares London’s Soho to Hong Kong’s area of the same name. While updated lyrics referencing Adele, David Bowie and Beyoncé give Canopies and Grapes a refreshed and inspiring delivery. Taking lead from a fan request, she even throws in MIA before closing the stunning set with Paper Forest.

There’s something that remains altogether unique about Emmy The Great, but however she does it, fans can be safe in the knowledge that it’s alive and well on her latest record too.

Did you catch Emmy The Great on her Second Love tour? Let us know @TicketmasterUK.