Mauvey ft. Louvre Doors @ The StAge

By Maia Rakovic

To put it simply, the St Andrews music scene is being served a generous scoop of renaissance right now.

Ever since we’ve been fortunate enough to return to the hallowed halls of the Union, it feels like we’ve been living through a constant stream of packed club nights and gigs. Some memorable, some not (but not because they’re boring - on the contrary, sometimes they’re a little too fun).

On Saturday 16th October, we had the pleasure of hosting the talented Mauvey on our very own StAge. Organised by our siblings over at STAR (with an extra special shout out to the hard work of Emily Baxter and Julia Swerdlow) who did a frankly impeccable job, we got to experience a gig that perfectly encapsulated what we missed most about live music. Energy, emotion, and performance abound, because, watch out: Mauvey’s back.

The night started off with an easy atmosphere as crowds milled about, drinks in hand, and anticipation rife. Supporting Mauvey was local talent Louvre Doors (Rory Gibb), who took to the stage with a tender mix of acoustic originals and covers alike. The intimate venue only served to highlight the soft emotions of Louvre Doors’ sound and charming stage presence.

As someone who had never listened to his music before, it’s safe to say that after Saturday, I’ve been converted. Louvre Doors perfectly scratches that Sufjan-shaped itch in the back of my brain and I’d highly recommend him to others that might be looking for a similar vibe.

After Louvre Doors’ set (and a brief intermission full of pint pulling and merch buying) Mauvey assumed the stage with a layered explosion of sound and electricity. The coupling of Mauvey with Louvre Doors only served to emphasise both performers’ strengths and add an edge of variety to the evening. 

Within a few minutes of Mauvey’s set starting, it quickly became clear that he is a performer who knows how to work a stage. In fact, not only did he work it, I’d say he was promoted, and now line manages the stage. Not a single inch of the performance area went untouched as Mauvey performed, effortlessly infecting the crowd with his own unique brand of energy. Rapid, uptempo, soulful, and low: Mauvey led the audience down an avenue of high-production sound.

A stand-out moment came in the form of his incredibly powerful tribute to a deceased friend. Upon his request, the audience held up their phones with torches alight. A classic concert environment that somehow felt heightened by the immediacy of such a local and familiar venue. This was no hollow and impersonal display of showmanship - the performance had a hardy core of authenticity at its centre. 

Eventually, Mauvey attempted to wrap up his set, to which the audience simply said ‘no’. In a moment that very much served ‘last-can-of-shaving-foam-three-days-before-raisin’, the St Andrews crowd just wasn’t ready to let him go. After an impassioned chant of ‘one more tune’, Mauvey re-emerged from the wings behind which he had vanished. They were going to get their money’s worth; at the very least until they’d gotten their impromptu encore out of him. To his own admission, it wasn’t something he’d anticipated, but something he welcomed nonetheless. St Andrews, never change.

The first encore song was an unreleased tune he hadn’t planned on sharing at this time - a haunting melody articulated in swaths of reverb and guitar.

The whole song built up this wall of sound that was so simple yet so grand at the same time. And, finally, the whole night was rounded off with a repeat performance of Irrational - clearly a fan favourite, judging from audience reaction (something which, in my opinion, is entirely deserved. I may have spent the last moments of the encore screaming along to the lyrics). 

All in all (in my unbiased opinion), STAR knows how to host a concert. Both artists complimented each other beautifully - the local Louvre Doors’ soft sounds eased the way for the musical journey that was yet to come. And, as for Mauvey, he’s the rare sort of artist that leaves you utterly transfixed and wanting more. Needless to say, I’m excited for the day that I can point at him, international superstar, and say that I knew him before he got huge.