Moby at the O2 Arena

A prominent figure in the dance music scene, Moby lights up the O2 Area on his first tour in over a decade. Through an extraordinarily generous gesture, the musician has chosen to give all profits from the tour to animal rights organisations; a passionate activist and advocate, he has the two words “animal rights” written in big, bold unmistakable letters down both arms.

Spanning an expansive career of such eclectic variety, tonight’s concert lives up to the hype. As the arena is awash in cobalt blue, Moby’s band appear on stage to a recorded version of My Weakness, a sweeping and sombre affair. The electrifying In My Heart follows, brilliantly upbeat and energetic, as we see the man himself emerge, accompanied by powerful vocals from one of the talented singers tonight. Moby is vigorous on the congas during Go, an instrument that always manages to sound incredibly seductive. The gig isn’t a straight run-through of tracks from Play, which marks its 25^th Anniversary, but a snapshot of his extensive back catalogue.

Flower segues into Find My Baby, a slowed-down grander rendition. He reminisces about how it’s been “300 years” since last playing the UK, and continues self-deprecatingly, a key characteristic tonight. The delicate Almost Home is Moby’s personal favourite, while When It’s Cold I’d Like to Die is evocative of This Mortal Coil’s Song to the Siren through its emotional provocations, a sentiment continued with In This World, while classic Porcelain is a track that nearly didn’t make the cut to Play. Starting off from a drum beat, Zulu and vocal reverberations of “eh”, offer a gentle balance alongside the distinct piano melody, while a cello and violin take the whole event to another level; Moby adds a surprising element playing a long high-pitched melody on the keyboard, very reminiscent of Tangerine Dream or Vangelis.

Jazz and soul act Lady Blackbird joins the artist on stage for Walk With Me, her voice so breathtakingly good, it seems like it can do no wrong. The calibre of artists are top notch, and Moby admires them too. The incredible vocalist sings on Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad, a tear-inducing homage to gospel, feeling like a powerful religious experience.

Like many great gigs, there are numerous highlights, such as the distinctive violin notes, and a myriad of other instruments of Extreme Ways. Playing a cover of Ring of Fire by Merle Kilgore, complete with cowboy hat, and another classic hit, Natural Blues, leaves everyone all mellowed out. 

The next two tracks are wild and hedonistic. Feeling So Real is a bombastic affair, while the terrifying thriller Thousand, dedicated to the ravers, includes thunderous reverberating shots that seem to pound a million beats per minute; Moby describes the feeling akin to standing in a field amongst thousands of people, filled with joy.

The artist has a knack for creating music that connects to the soul, and we can only wish Moby played more.

Selina Begum
Photos: Miguel de Melo

For further information and future events visit Moby’s website here.

Watch the video for the single here: