KHALID // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
Despite his enticing charm and his smooth kick-back beats, Khalid did not quite send his fans to heaven.
KHALID PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 20.09.2019
PICTURE BY: STUART WESTWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Khalid has rapidly grown into an esteemed hip hop name. Since 2016, he has been collaborating with the some of the most popular artists of his time and this 21-year-old is bound to have made himself some serious connections in the industry. Although he loves a featuring slot, it certainly does not stop him blooming on his own stage as he tours his huge 2019 release Free Spirit. This latest work shows his clear development as artist and has exponentially increased his fan-base.
Khalid’s tracks are primarily R&B numbers woven with colourful pop and his personal style has all the same vibrancy. His vocals often have some soulful depths and a smooth embracing quality.
In the only Scottish leg of the continental tour, a large, predominantly young crowd took to The SSE Hydro to see the hit-making man. The night’s support was the brilliant Raye and the stunning ‘Finders Keepers’ singer Mabel and the attendees were fired up.
For the performance, the stage was bare and the instrumentalists were placed off in the wings to make way for the night’s choreography. Two screens were set up at the back with brilliant work going into the visual display for each song.
Khalid thanked his dancers and encouraged them to sing and announce themselves in to the mike. They seemed to delight in their art and they really took the night to the heights. The friendship between the group was clearly tight and the Khalid looked proud of the work of his crew. Khalid danced in time with them at one point but on his own he moved with a bumbled, quiet confidence that was, in its own way, endearing.
Things did not sound so crisp with the venue creating a muddy sound and it was an issue that persisted almost constantly. Opening numbers ‘Free Spirit’ and ‘8TEEN’ were non-distinct and a particularly disappointing way to kick off. Much later tracks ‘Heaven’ and ‘Bluffin’’ saw a things improve to a level that kept consistent. By the final tracks ‘Location,’ ‘Silence’ – a Marshmello cover, and the ultimate ‘America Teen’ the arena had mixed atmosphere; some evidently ecstatic and some looked keen to leave.
Overall Khalid’s performance did not tick all the boxes his tracks could have despite the rulers who were on stage with him. Khalid’s performance was inhibited by some the venues acoustics and the terrible quality sound which resulted in a performance of his hit tracks that was murky. He still put in a valiant effort and hopefully they will pick a different venue if they come back to play Glasgow.
SETLIST: | KHALID : THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 20.09.2019
Free Spirt
8TEEN
Twenty One
Hundred
Saved
My Bad
Bad Luck
Heaven
Bluffin’
Vertigo
Motion
Better
Right Back
Location
Silence - (Mashmello cover)
American Teen
Another Sad Love Song
9.13
Coaster
Intro
Alive
Talk
Outta My Head
Young Dumb & Broke
Eastside - (Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid cover)
Love Lies - (Khalid & Normani cover)
OTW
ENCORE:
Salem’s Interlude
Saturday Nights