Jack Johnson: Live review

Adrienne Wyper reviews the Hawaiian singer/songwriter/strummer in Hyde Park, London

What's the story?
So polite, that Jack Johnson. He ambled on stage to greet the crowd: "Hello, so nice to see you all." He has a new album: Sleep Through The Static. It's more political, and the first not made in Hawaii, his birthplace.
But he started with some crowd-pleasers from his last album, In Between Dreams, like Never Know and Banana Pancakes.

Backed by a full band, his acoustic pop was fuller and richer. But alone or with company, the ex-surfer's laidback sounds are perfect for a sunny summer easygoing evening.The crowd was very, very varied, as you'd probably expect from an outdoor gig on a summer evening in London's Hyde Park. Up the front: screaming younger hard-core fans. Up the back: tartan picnic rugs, grey hair and babies. Banana Pancakes went down well with all types in the crowd, swaying together.

The sound bounced and echoed off the Park Lane buildings, but on some soft reggaeish tracks, like Monsoon, it enhanced the mix. There were screens showing Jack for those of us further back on the bleached grass, but the on a central screen over the stage showing accompanying visuals was too low down. I did glimpse an old-fashioned steam train during Breakdown.

Who played?
G-Love had been on earlier in the day, and bounced back on stage for a second appearance.

Liking...
Drinking cider in the sunshine... Jack's smooth delivery, reminiscent of a softer, sweeter John Martyn. And his cute banter with the crowd as the sun went down: "You guys look so pretty right now with the light on you."
To find out where Jack Johnson is playing click here.