LEWIS CAPALDI // O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW
The heart-melting Scottish talent Lewis Capaldi has had a busy year, with huge chart success and back-to-back sell out tours, the man seems an unstoppable force.
LEWIS CAPALDI PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY
PICTURE BY: | STUART WESTWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Lewis Capaldi is the biggest oxymoron in the industry right now. Behind a microphone, his voice is from the heavens. The songwriter cradles the heartbroken and the lonely in a way that could be compared to Adele. He sings with a sincerity that penetrates into the listener’s core and causes Goosebumps. But, when this 23-year-old is not raising his voice to sing, he is all banter and playful mockery. From showing up to a Greggs in Middlesbrough earlier this year and working a shift behind the counter, to his tongue-and-cheek spat with Britpop icon Noel Gallagher, it is clear just how much Capaldi loves to act the jester. It’s through this combination of emotion and humour that Capaldi has propelled himself quickly into the hearts of so many.
Catching wind in 2017, Capaldi captured attention with his first hit ‘Bruises.’ He went on to support Sam Smith and Niall Horan in 2018 and placed himself on the bill for festivals all over the globe that year, including - Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Reading & Leeds Festival, Rize and TRNSMT. But with no slowing to his momentum, 2019 has been a grounding-breaking year for Capaldi. His shows have sold-out before one can catch a breath, and it’s the same story for his spring 2020 arena tour which includes shows in Glasgow’s SSC Hydro and Aberdeen’s P&J Live. He is also on the bill to headline his fourth TRNSMT festival. His last performance at TRNSMT saw him take to the stage in a Chewbacca mask and delighting the crowd.
Capaldi put out his first studio album, Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent, in May 2019 and it became the UK’s fastest-selling album of the year and earned gold status in only two weeks following its release. It also saw Capaldi make history by becoming the first ever artist to announce and sell out an arena tour before the release of a début album.
This December, Capaldi played two sold-out shows in Glasgow’s O2 Academy and giddy crowd jammed into the venue. His comedic persona turns a night of sensitive ballads into an uplifting party. On the second night, Capaldi stepped on to a humbly set up stage and the crowd let out a shaking roar. He greeted his fans and launched into wonderful single ‘Grace’ and quickly showed off his impressive vocal abilities. This track builds a churning pace while being drenched in Capaldi’s powerful honey tones.
Slower numbers like ‘Don’t Get Me Wrong’ turned the crowd into a swaying ocean but, with the juxtaposition of Capaldi’s unique humorous character, the joyous energy never faded. One of the funniest points in the night was when he took the phone of lucky and attendee and natters away to the friend who was on the other line - taunting her for not buying a ticket. Capaldi was confident on stage and, while he appeared relaxed, he constantly showed his gratitude for the crowd. He played the beautiful recently released single ‘Before You Go’ and arms are thrown into the air as every word is sung along. After ‘Lost on You’ Capaldi punched the air, knowing he was nailing his performance.
The night was closed with powerhouse tracks ‘Hold Me While You Wait’ and ‘Someone You Loved’ and Capaldi had the fans singing so loud that he could have stepped off stage and listened to his own song’s splendour. Having set off multiple rounds of confetti and the turning the stage into a waterfall of sparks, the night was explosive.
Seeing Lewis Capaldi live is a heart-warming expression of glory. One criticism is that his set list bordered on the expected and could have been elevated with something no one could have guessed – Capaldi has the esteem to do anything he wants and his adoring crowd would have been fully behind him. That being said, the night was a soaring success to add to Capaldi’s already long list of achievements.
SETLIST: | LEWIS CAPALDI : O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW (07.12.2019-08.12.2019)
Grace
Forever
Don’t Get Me Wrong
One
Maybe
Before You Go
Lost on You
Bruises
Hollywood
Fade
Hold Me While You Wait
Someone You Loved