Everything Everything was everything I could have dreamt of, and more.

I was completely stuck for what to get my mum for Christmas this year. She, like me, just tends to buy herself the things she wants, as and when she sees them. I was browsing gig listings in London this week and saw that Everything Everything were playing at the Union Chapel in Islington. Of course it was completely sold out but, not being one to give up at the first hurdle, I found a paid of tickets on eBay. Sure, I paid 80 quid for them but, my goodness, it was 80 quid well spent.

If you've never been to the Union Chapel before, it's a church that's currently in use. It's actually the really nice element about it, as they only put gigs of a certain type on there, where they'd expect a certain audience, which is great as everyone's very respectful of the venue and the artists. My mum was not the oldest there by a long way, we got seats at the front with relative ease and there was no being shoved around by sweaty teenagers and having, what you hope is, water poured over you.

Everything Everything and the Man Alive ensemble were supported by James Blake. If you haven't heard his stuff, definitely head here and give him a listen. His set was incredible; majestic doesn't even begin to describe how good it was. I don't really think my mum 'got it', as she whispered over at one point, "that man isn't even hitting those drums". My favourite song was definitely 'Limit To Your Love', if only because his voice is so mellifluous.



After a brief interlude, which gave me the opportunity to pay NINE QUID for two glasses of, essentially, non-alcoholic mulled wine - bloody church had burnt all the alcohol off hadn't they - Everything Everything and the Man Alive ensemble took to the stage. The gig was the first of its kind, with respect to the fact that the band released an iPhone and iPad app for fans to download, which enabled them to access a live stream of the show. It was also accessible online live, and the edited version will be uploaded at some point today here. Definitely definitely check it out, if you haven't already.

I can honestly say that I have never heard a man sing live as well as Jonathan did. His voice was absolutely enchanting and, while the quality was almost as good as the album, his stage presence and the entire performance only served to highlight why seeing music performed live, as it was written to be experienced, is not a quality that can be reproduced by any other medium.

I don't have the words, or the technical knowledge, to encapsulate exactly what it was that made this so fantastic. I recently heard someone say "nothing can make you feel something as quickly as music can, it's the most immediate shortcut." I guess that's what we all love about music really; that inexplicable quality that gives us ownership over a song where the artist left off. That's great music.

As ridiculous as this is, I have kind of decided I'd like to join a band. I'm definitely going to start singing lessons again, but stay away from X-Factor at all costs... until 2011.