The 22nd of July was the night Leon Bridges visited The Barrowland Ballroom. I’ve always loved that venue and has it’s history absorbed in the walls. When I walk up they stairs I understand I won’t ever leave disappointed. Leon Bridges was no different. I’ve never really took my time to fully listen to his albums, only pluck out some songs at random. My friends however are bigger fans than me and I thought I would tag along and see what all the fuss was about. I love being recommended music from others. I’ve said it before in a previous review but I like being given suggestions of different music, it lets me see what people love. What hits the ear right for them. Sometimes it’s not for me. But then other times I can go a day without listening to them. Leon Bridges is one of they other times.
Leon Bridges and his trusted band walks on around 9pm, all of them dressed in their own cool style. Leon Bridges opens the night with ‘When a Man Cries’, which is the opening song to his newest album ‘Leon’ that was released October last year. A delightful slow-tempo track to ease the crowd into a night of soul, funk and a dash of country vibes. After the first track ended, along came the second (yes, really). ‘Panther City’ began and listening to it just made the atmosphere pleasing, it was a delightful feeling as he sang about where he was raised. ‘Better Man’ started and I couldn’t look away, I didn’t want to anyway but I knew I couldn’t. Never heard the song before and was possibly my new favourite from him. A few folk told me he reminds them of a Sam Cooke, and I hear what they’re saying. Just pure soul. You can see the music is taken control of him when he performs and he can’t help but dance and glide across the stage. The stage presence from him was just cool, the music, the style, the dancing, it all made sense.
The night had songs from his new album ‘Leon’ such as ‘Laredo’, ‘Peaceful Place’ and the beautiful ‘Can’t Have It All’. The band with him was amazing and no faults were heard. The female guitarist, Emily Elbert played superbly and I enjoyed her guitar playing and backing vocals to accompany some songs, it gave they songs more of that soul sound to it. There was a band member who was playing the lap steel guitar which I hadn’t seen at a performance before but it sounded fantastic. It definitely added a splash of country to the songs.
Although Bridges played the majority of songs from his new album, he pleased his fans with favourites such as amazing tracks such as ‘Texas Sun’, ‘Coming Home’ and soothing lullaby ‘Mariella’. Once they all left the stage, Leon Bridges took to the stage with an acoustic guitar and a spotlight shining on him. He began to sing ‘Lisa Sawyer’ a song about his mother and her life, the room fell silent for they few minutes, only to be met with thunderous cheers when it finished. The night ended with ‘Beyond’ from his album ‘Coming Home’ which was a brilliant song to end on and had everyone singing along and swaying to the soul sounds amplifying in the room. I would definitely go see him again now that I’ve been listening to him more occasionally due to the friends that recommended him to me. God bless my friends.