Gig Review: Jonny Morgan and the Moral Support - Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham. Thursday 19th March 2026

 

While the 2024 AMA UK Emerging Artist award nominated by Bob Harris attracted attention and proved an influential launch pad, we are in the wake of the defining days of Jonny Morgan’s musical identity to a wider audience. A dedicated album release and an urge to get around the country unveils the dual layer of a recording and performing artist opening channels for justice to prevail. There is never a guarantee of the latter but the swagger of THE HOPE THAT KILLS YOU and the vivacious stage presence combine to impress. Replicating the bottled connective energy of a buzzing small room in the Hare and Hounds on larger platforms would be tasty progression and the frenzied activity of spring 2026 casts the mould.

The ace in the pack is the Moral Support. Maybe there is a fluidity in personnel between the studio and Kings Heath on a Thursday night but the tight eminence of Joe Coombs (lead guitar), Matthew Green (bass guitar), Eve Lesedi (saxophone) and Joe Montague (drums) gift-wrapped the small venue magic. Mindful of superlative restraint, E-Street vibes filled the room coordinated by the charismatic flair of a front person perfecting the role. 

The album, barely weeks old, purrs with refined rock ’n’ roll and its vibrant qualities transcended the studio to a venue blessed with a decent sound system. Adapted floor space maximised the effusive appreciation of a healthy gathering. The hour and a quarter set time required a couple of covers, the odd old song and chat swaying between impish wit and inspired irreverence to boost the new album equipped with a running time of just over the 30-minute mark. You felt the time naturally filled and immense enjoyment framed a fond memory within a busy wider music environment. 

There was a two-fold circumstance around enlisting the services of Craig Gould to open. The pair met at the sadly shelved Americana showcase in Hackney a couple of years ago bonding over a mutual musical outlook. Gould’s Midlands roots brought the benefits of a hometown slant and he used the time cordially to boost his own music and lay a platform for a much fuller sound to heat up the place. The ideal warm up act, leaving a mark and sharing defined lines where both acts strive to take their music ie sincere songwriting blending grit with lighter personal interludes.

Jonny Morgan doesn’t shy away from the role of the cover song, both as a commercial need when starting up to boosting an embryonic back catalogue on stage. Three songs into his Birmingham debut a respectfully impressive version of ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ enhanced the tone and later the band took ‘Walk of Life’ to new levels with the sax input. Standard tunes maybe, but they shone in context.

However, it is the original song where Jonny Morgan will expand the margins of his prowess. From the new album, the delights of ‘Another Heartache’ announced the arrival of the Moral Support in fine style. ’30 By Spring’ proved the ideal mid-set breather with strong personal resonance. The playful pop of ‘Don’t Come Around’ smoothed the path for fruition. The crowning moment was a trio finale. Firstly, the soaring melodic charm of ‘The Hope That Kills You’, followed by the rock ’n’ roll drive of ‘I’m Alright’. Eventually the powerful homage to original music ‘Play Us One We Know’ brought the curtain down in the encore spot. Earlier in the set an older song titled ‘Sarah’ raised a smile with its background and came across well.

The cards are in Jonny Morgan’s favour to take the Moral Support on a wild ride, navigating the heavy in-demand stature of Joe Coombs. The sax of Eve Lesedi adds a sultry tone (FYI Morgan and Lesedi married last year) and the gilded currency of a strong melodic song are in plentiful supply. Everything fell into place for a super night of live music. By luck or design? The latter definitely paved the way.