While Kristian Mattsson may not truly be the tallest man on earth, his robust stage presence and soulful voice certainly live up to his stage name, The Tallest Man on Earth. Playing to a sold-out crowd at Cirkus, he opened with a crowd favorite, "King of Spain" and played the first couple songs solo before being joined by his band. The brass and bass backup added depth to songs like "The Gardner", but whether Mattsson was playing with the band, or alone on the guitar or piano his voice belted out clear as crystal filling the circular venue with palpable emotion. At times playful, at times sorrowful, one cannot help be affected his powerful voice, which alone is matched by his prowess on the guitar–picking strings with one hand on the guitar while the other was occupied grabbing a bottle of water or a towel to wipe his face.
He played a mixture of songs both off older albums and off There's No Leaving Now which was released last June, and ended the set at the piano with "Kids on the Run". The applause roared on long after he had left the stage and the crowd did not take their seats again until he came running on stage, leaping over the amps to play "Thousand Ways". He was then joined again by the band for "The Wild Hunt" which slowly faded into Paul Simon's "Graceland" with a surprise visitor, his wife, Amanda Bergman, who plays under the name Idiot Wind. The duet was flawless and one could not help but smile watching them share a mic together, cheek to cheek, singing about the Mississippi Delta. Mattsson left the stage, bowing with his band, blowing kisses and thanking the crowd profusely. This was not a concert to be missed, but if you did you're in luck, as The Tallest Man on Earth will playing a second show tonight 18/2 at Cirkus.
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