LEWIS CAPALDI // THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
LEWIS CAPALDI //
THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW
He-man Capaldi delivers another world class performance at the Hydro and once again proves himself as a force to be reckoned with.
★★★★★ (5/5)
LEWIS CAPALDI PERFORMING AT GLASGOW’S SSE HYDRO - 05.03.2020
PICTURE BY: | CALUM BUCHAN PHOTOGRAPHY
Lewis Capaldi seems unstoppable at the moment. In the last year, he has played back-to-back gigs across the globe. He’s the 23 year-old who’s gone from playing in tiny Glaswegian pubs to selling out the nation’s biggest arenas - months in advance. Playing 3 successive years at TRNSMT and many other festivals all over the world when he hasn’t been on his own tour, it seems as though there is simply not enough of Capaldi to go around. This tour saw Capaldi setting another record - the two highest selling shows ever at the SSE Hydro with a total of 27, 770 tickets was sold for the weekend.
Such extensive touring is a brilliant way for him to promote himself and he has managed to keep himself on top form despite all the chaos. His first, and only, album was only released last year and was the biggest-selling album in the country a few months later.
Capaldi’s sense of humour is such a prominent feature of every performance and every public interaction. The juxtaposition between his earnest ballads and comedic presence creates huge appeal for the public and for the press. In fact, he is a social media and tabloid master. From a feud with Noel Gallagher to his latest friendship with Rita Ora, Capaldi is never far from a headline.
The night started in laughter as cut frames of Capaldi at the 2020 Grammys were played. He lost out on the Song of the Year award to Billy Eilish and certainly was happy to poke fun of himself about it. The huge crowd of near 14,000 roared with laughter and then with voluminous cheering as Capaldi took to the stage and belted out the opening vocal of ‘Grace.’ Confetti cannons exploded as Capaldi’s clear vocals engulfed the room. He plays ‘Forever’ and he seems to be awe of the crowd’s admiration.
Addressing his audience, Capaldi uses more colourful language than an adult film star. His drives into toilet humour, jokes about the coronavirus and insults the people in the “posh boxes” and everyone is laughing. This creates a brilliant balance for his chilling, emotionally charged tracks like ‘One,’ ‘Headspace’ and ‘Hold Me While You Wait.’
The audience know his songs so well. A transfixed silence grips the crowd as Capaldi sings and it is only broken by those singing along. The main set closes with ‘Fade’ and ‘Before You Go’ as a waterfall stream of sparks is set off onstage. Capaldi was ready with a bigger finale still. For his encore he did not return to the stage. Instead, towards the back of the large, standing crowd, a platform was raised which Capaldi used to end the night with ‘Somebody You Loved’ and an emotional sea of fans all rejoiced.
Lewis Capaldi has done everything right and is speeding towards super stardom. He has set himself a high bar and speculation is rife on how he can follow up on his current success. Irrespective of how things go on from here, Capaldi, is a young man who has come to make heads turn and, boy, has he.
SETLIST: | LEWIS CAPALDI : THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW - 05.03.2020
Grace
Forever
Don’t Get Me Wrong
Maybe
One
Hold Me While You Wait
Headspace
Bruises
Hollywood
Fade
Before You Go
ENCORE:
Someone You Loved