JAMES BLUNT // SEC ARMADILLO, GLASGOW
MAJOR BLUNT RETURNS TO GLASGOW WITH ONCE UPON A MIND TOUR OF DUTY
JAMES BLUNT PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SEC ARMADILLO - 19.02.2020
PICTURE BY: | STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
English singer songwriter James Blunt has never been one to take himself too seriously. Sometimes classed as a male version of Adele, his songs exude raw emotions, the trials and tribulations of life experiences, the high points and lows and has given him a label, sometimes unfairly, of making dull, depressing music. On his latest collection of tunes, 2019’s Once Upon A Mind, Blunt himself describes his latest work as his most depressing yet! I suppose whether this is correct or not is down to each individual’s opinion, but the huge crowd gathered at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium for his latest visit to the city certainly seemed in a more cheery frame of mind when he took to the stage with How It Feels To Be Alive, Smoke Signals and The Truth.
Support on this tour comes from Hampshire twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas. The country pop duo have been on the circuit for 6 years and have three albums behind them, and having previously toured with the likes of David Gray, Lewis Capaldi and Miranda Lambert, the tour with James Blunt would see them continue to build on their growing reputation. Their set tonight was well received by the Glasgow audience, and could be one to look out for in the future. The duo would return to the stage during Blunt’s set to provide backing vocals on the track Halfway, from the new album.
Back to the main setlist now, and Blunt continues with his anecdotes and quips between songs. Having previously been managed by Elton John’s team, he was advised by the superstar that when playing live, just give the crowd what they want, always do the hits. James retorts ‘Ive only got one big hit, am I meant to do Youre Beautiful 22 times a night???’ He may come across as serious and deep, but you cant deny that there lies a wicked sense of humour within him too. As expected, most of the set contains songs from the latest record, although Goodbye My Lover brought about the first deafening roar of the evening early on in the set. I Told You, 5 Miles and Halfway (with Ward Thomas), Postcards on ukelele was different but works well, he threatned the crowd earlier they’d only get Youre Beautiful if they were on best behaviour, which they were. Deafening roar number 2! Stay The Night, OK and Monsters, which relates his relationship with his ill father who was suffering from stage four chronic kidney disease. Blunt wrote the song for his father to say the things he wanted to say. This powerfully moving song closed the 1st part of the set and after a brief tea break, Blunt and his band returned to the stage for 3 more songs. Cold, 1973 and Bonfire Heart and the evening was over. The band took their plaudits, bowed to the crowd and left the stage to a standing ovation, before it was time to head home thru the dreary wintery weather waiting outside.
This was a decent set by Blunt, you know what to expect from his style of music, so for lovers of emotional, honest songs from the heart, he makes a perfect night out. Sometimes tho, a wee bit of oomph to the set wouldnt go amiss.
SETLIST: | JAMES BLUNT : SEC ARMADILLO, GLASGOW - 19.02.2020
How It Feels To Be Alive
Smoke Signals
The Truth
Wisemen
High
Champions
Goodbye My Lover
I Told You
5 Miles
Carry You Home
Halfway - (with Ward Thomas)
I Really Want You
Postcards
Stay The Night
The Greatest
You’re Beautiful
Same Mistake
OK - (Robin Schulz cover)
Monsters
ENCORE:
Cold
1973
Bonfire Heart