El Grey in Los Angeles, US 27/3/2013

  • Grace Kelly
  • Toy Boy
  • Lollipop
  • Blue Eyes
  • Billy Brown
  • Popular
  • Drunk
  • Only Lonely Man
  • Underwater
  • Stuck In The Middle
  • Elle Me Dit
  • Make You Happy
  • Hia Leah
  • Origin
  • Big Girl
  • Century Man
  • Celebrate
  • Relax
  • Love Today
  • Over My Shoulder

Not totally sure about the order but the setlist for Mika’s LA show at El Rey Theater was more or less like above. The highlight of the show was definitely Make You Happy performed together with Greg Wells. Any album version can’t possibly compete with this stunning acoustic performance, it was extremely powerful and so full of emotion and Mika was singing every word like meaning it, I loved it. Also, it was so heart-warming to hear Mika’s producer’s words about him, I felt lucky to be there and see them performing together.

In addition to Make You Happy the most beautiful songs were once again Underwater, Over My Shoulder and Hia Leah. Mika’s voice is simply perfect for the songs and in a brilliant shape. Loving the way Curtis is playing in the beginning of Underwater and Over My Shoulder (I think the instrument is called melodica, just correct me if I’m wrong) and Max singing like an angel in Over My Shoulder and Hia Leah. Of course I knew he is a good singer and have heard him before but I never realised his voice is this pretty. The simple setting makes it so effortless to hear their voices and every different instrument. 

I’m loving some new details they’ve added to several songs: church style intro for Popular, tapping in Stuck In The Middle, Saxophone for Billy Brown (not new, but we can hear it so much better now) and energetic drumming in several songs (Lollipop, Love Today, Only Lonely Man, Century Man). My biggest favorite on the setlist is the new song Century Man. It’s classic, somehow Beatles style, and full of energy. I can hardly handle how awesome it is, I haven’t heard anything like this for a very long time. Acoustic Relax is always like a dream but the audience is singing so much it’s not easy to enjoy Mika’s voice. Still beautiful as always.

The venue was intimate and quite fancy. The audience was a bit different than usually (a lot of VIPs and special guests, Mika joked about them and thanked people he works with) but still loud and energetic. Afterwards I saw some some great LA reviews and particularly loved the words by one of the local music sites: Many moments found me thinking about how absolutely adorable he is, and so completely unassuming about his own career and success that you just want to throw love at him. Oh, that’s Mika, I totally agree. I’ve always wanted to see a Mika show in LA and it was definitely worth traveling.

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