To say Leon Thomas is a star in the making feels like an understatement; however, after witnessing his talent on the KOKO stage as part of his MUTT Live tour, a significant milestone in his career. From the moment tickets went on sale and instantly sold out, that was enough to let you know that Leon's buzz has been highly anticipated in London.
Coming off the back of his highly successful album of the same name, Leon’s latest offering has undoubtedly brought him to newer heights. And the show was just one piece of evidence: from the moment he came on stage to the opening track of the album HOW FAST, he showed his artistry on another level.
Taking to the stage with only his band and a couple of his guitars, which he utilised and played throughout the show, Leon displayed his strong musicianship—playing both the eclectic guitar, which lifted the instrumentation across the album to the stage. His rock influences came through his various riffs throughout many of the tracks, with the guitar solos and jumping on the drums.
Taking the sounds of MUTT to the stage from LUCID DREAM, FAR FETCHED, VIBES DON’T LIE, YES IT IS combined with Floetry’s Say Yes, DANCING WITH DEMONS and, of course, the title track MUTT. The setlist had the audience going from start to finish, with the only momentary blip in the show being when he brought out UK rapper Stormzy, who has been subjected to public scrutiny and backlash over his recent McDonald campaign and his lacklustre statement released a mere few hours before the show. For that brief moment, it was met with a mixed reaction from the crowd, who thought Leon might have made a questionable choice. However, moment aside, the rest of the show continued with the hype and energy that was present before then.
Experiencing this at the highest level at KOKO, the essence of the show and Leon’s star power was really on full display and further cemented Leon’s presence in the current musical landscape. His performance, with the essence of Motown and a style that is remnant of old school Miguel, is unique and sets him apart from his counterparts. If this show was anything to go off on, he is only going to continue to rise higher and higher.
