Live Review: Jack Garratt at Terminal 5

From the moment of the first drum strike, the vibrant, multi-instrumentalist Jack Garratt captivates and energizes the crowd. Somewhat of an enigma, Garratt is truly mesmerizing.

Jack Garratt at Terminal 5.

I first witnessed him back in March in a small club in Brooklyn, where people were packed like sardines to get a glimpse of him in one of his first US shows. From there, 2015 has been one success after another, playing festivals like Reading and the infamous Glastonbury in the UK, as well as being chosen as an act at Apple’s iTunes Festival in London. This past week, he was back in the U.S opening at New York City’s Terminal 5 for MS/MR.

Jack Garratt at Terminal 5.

Each of Garratt’s tracks has a different pulse and it’s as if your heartbeat changes with every calculated drum beat. His body exhibits these pops as he simultaneously operates his electronic drum machine, keyboard, and electric guitar, while also singing his masterly crafted lyrics. Quickly finding his groove on stage, the transition from one track to the next is seamless. The colors that surrounded him are explosive and fit right along with the music, adding to the full body experience that is forced upon the crowd.

Jack Garratt at Terminal 5.

The title of his recent EP, Synesthesiac, does not have a random, frivolous meaning. Through a little research I discovered that synesthesia is a neurological condition in which the stimulation of one sense causes an involuntary response in one or more other senses. In simpler terms: it is a single word that perfectly describes what it is like to experience Jack Garratt perform live.

Jack Garratt at Terminal 5.

Along with the popular tracks “Water”, “Chemical”, and “Worry”, Jack also performed a soulful cover of Disclosure’s “Latch”, as well as adding newer track “Weathered” to the setlist, which has become a personal favorite. The next few months see him finishing up this round of opening dates here in the US, and then heading back to the UK and Europe, first headlining his own tour and then on to support Mumford & Sons on their next leg of shows. The talent that exudes from Jack Garratt is a must see and it won’t be long until he’s back in the States continuing on his meteoric rise.