Bonafide UK artist Sam Fender has taken North America by storm with a long-awaited transcontinental tour showcasing his third album “People Watching,” released Feb. 21.
Hailing from North Shields, England Fender’s music highlights relatable life experiences from the eyes of a small-town songwriter in his 20s and 30s. In the last six years. he has produced three No.1 albums in the UK. The People Watching Tour has been a smash success, kicking off with sold-out EU and UK dates. Regardless of his unquestionable success, Fender still seemed skeptical of his fame performing at The Paramount this week.
“I’m really nervous, and when I’m nervous, I ramble so you won’t probably be able to understand me, but it’s just amazing to be here on the other side of the world and see this many people,” Fender said looking out at the audience packed to the ceiling of the venue.
Opener Young Jesus embodied the most PNW oxymoron I have ever experienced on stage. An alternative band with the name of a Christian rock band and songs that are heavily influenced by Buddhist texts. For a nonreligious rock band, Young Jesus was certainly moved by the spirit, filling The Paramount with dramatic chord progressions and bolstered enthusiasm, the band truly had the confidence of a headliner.
“Sam’s music has been very meaningful to me […] when I was listening to his music, I had just become a new father and it really helped me a lot [to] get through that and be the best dad I can be,” lead vocalist John Rossiter said. “He reached out to me after I released an album called ‘The Fool.’ He was very kind about that album. I like to say, and this is close to the truth: that 12 people like that album, four of them are on stage and one is my mom.”
Unfortunately, the audience’s lack of enthusiasm left the band’s performance seeming awkward and one-sided. Their dynamic portrayal of emotion throughout the set could have been felt in Bellevue. However, it warranted no more than consistent head bops from the audience and a mellow cheer.
Following Young Jesus, Fender’s band ran onto the stage under smoky dim lighting. Contrasting their energy, Fender took to the stage calmly. Without uttering a word he picked up a guitar and began playing his 2018 track “Dead Boys.”
Behind Fender, an illustrated backdrop of a road stretched aimlessly into the mountains with a singular electrical cable stretched up to the sky on the right. As the audience collectively sang along to track five of Fender’s new album “Arm’s Length” the concert seemed to bleed wholesome vulnerability.
“Tonight feels like an acoustic show, you know what I mean,” Fender said. “This is a really cool moment, this is such a prestigious-looking place. I was watching the Nirvana gig here on YouTube before I came here and I probably shouldn’t have done that because now I’m really fucking nervous.”
As the set progressed, it became abundantly clear that whoever works on Fender’s lighting team desperately needs a salary increase. During the song “Howdon Aldi Death Queue” a blinding show of dancing strobe lights transformed The Paramount’s gold-embellished walls into a summer rave. Quickly reverting to a calm soulful marine world for the song “All Is On My Side” painting purple water caustics on the ceiling.
Seattle local Aiden Conroy lived out his dream on stage with Fender for the song “The Borders” playing acoustic guitar alongside his band. As the band continued to rock out, embodying a modern-day Fleetwood Mac. Conroy simply stared at Fender as though he was in the presence of a god.
The set finished with a euphoric performance of “Seventeen Going Under,” leaving the audience repeating the trademarked isolated vocals of the song’s chorus until Fender returned to the stage for a three-song encore, coming to a fittingly explosive conclusion with his song “Hypersonic Missiles.”
Fender will continue touring in North America this month with two appearances at Coachella before ending in Denver on April 24 and returning to the UK and Europe for the tour’s summer dates.
Reach writer Isabelle Greenberg at arts@dailyuw.com. X: @Isa05_Greenberg
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