MAGGIE ROGERS // SWG3: TV STUDIO, GLASGOW
Maggie Rogers’ bright folky pop coloured Glasgow’s SWG3 as she performed a knock out performance.
MAGGIE ROGERS PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SWG3: TV STUDIO - 17.02.2019
PICTURE BY: KENDALL WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
The modern but classic music of Maggie Rogers seemed to spring up from nowhere and before long she was performing sell out show to huge crowds and developing huge critical acclaim.
But how did she develop this glowing status so seemingly quickly?
Well just listen to interviews with Rogers and you’ll quickly see she is infectiously charming and down to earth. She is as bubbly as her music yet seems humbled by her success. She also clearly displays her musical aptitude, having studied the subject at New York University. It was here where she made her impression on the trend setting collaborator Pharrell Williams. Williams was running a masterclass at the university and the students were asked to present a composition to him. When Rogers plays her track ‘Alaska,’ Williams looks taken aback and the pair can’t resist shuffling inwardly to its soft rhythms. He applauds her for her track and can’t find the words to critic it. It’s obvious how impressed he is. Luckily the whole encounter, that for Rogers was a strong push in the direction she dreamed of, is recorded and can easily be viewed online
Rogers is not shy of putting in the work though. As her recognition begins to build, she is touring relentlessly. Last year she toured with the giants Mumford and Sons along with later touring her own shows. Quickly she came out touring again and it’s clear she thrives on a stage.
At SWG3 Rogers filled the building and the mostly young, feminine crowd were buzzing for her performance. She bounced on stage to roar of applause. With only one studio album, Rogers played it in its entirety. She threw in a twist at her encore with an ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ cover that went down a treat with the excited crowd.
On stage Rogers has energy and ooomf. She rhythmically flails herself in time to her jumpy melodies and it’s hypnotising. She is dressed beautifully but still looks effortless unassuming and these same quality apply to her to soft falsetto voice. She can somehow sing all the heavenly high ranges in her songs all the while dancing, care-free, to her entrancing melodies.
Maggie Rogers is speeding along her path to stardom and is certainly giving it all she’s got. Hearing her speak or seeing her live is certainly inspiring and if she continues as she is treading now then she has the potential to be massive. Some might argue that the night may have improved if Rogers had moved away from her album ‘Heard It in a Past Life’ slightly more and introduced some more covers into her set. But no one could deny the lass has heart, drive, gusto and talent.