For fans of: The 1975, Lewis Watson, Dog Is Dead, Haim, Bastille
(AWFUL PHOTOS COURTESY OF SHITTY IPHONE CAMERA)
I don't really ever care about support acts. I would much prefer it if the main act came on stage, did their thing, then left so I wouldn't have to stand around for two hours watching someone I actually didn't want to see. Yeah, it's a fantastic opportunity for lesser-known artists to showcase their talent (blah blah blah) but I am, selfishly, thinking of my poor ankles crumbling under my body weight simply from standing in one place for too long. Besides the phenomenal live presence of Bastille supporting Two Door Cinema Club in Brixton back in February (I find most of Bastille's songs too similar sounding but oh me, oh my weren't they incredible live. They even, dare I say, outshone the TDCC lads.), an enjoyable support act is a rarity.
Let's go back to 21st March 2013. Lewis Watson at the KCLSU in London. On that night, the support was a singer/songwriter called Saint Raymond, who's song 'Bonfires' I was already obsessed with. His music completely floored me and I immediately became a fan. Lewis has an eye (or ear, I guess) for picking pretty amazing support acts, such as Mike Dignam and the lovely Shannon Saunders. Saint Raymond (aka Callum Burrows) was no exception. Neither was the support act chosen for Saint Raymond's first (and sold out!) headline show last night in London.
The support came from a newly emerging singer/songwriter called Joel Baker who owned the stage last night at Camden's Barfly. I hadn't heard of him before but his astonishingly soulful voice pretty much moved me. His songs range from charming solo ballads to propaaa head-bopping, foot-stomping acoustic anthems. As regular readers know, it always blows me away how just one person and their guitar can hold a crowd and Joel Baker did it so perfectly. His impressive set has definitely convinced me to purchase his current and any upcoming music. - check out his youtube channel, see what you think (you'll love him) -
/ really useless paragraph / There was definitely some pre-show entertainment in terms of a ridiculously drunk bald guy (I don't think he knew where he was, nor did he actually purposely come to see Saint Raymond) who cleared himself his own little dance floor and was bumpin', grindin', thrustin', twerkin' his way across the floor. Just when you thought he was about to pass out, he'd let out a massive roar and swing his big shiny head around. Everyone around me bonded because we were all laughing so hard. So jokes.
Despite perceptions that Saint Raymond is a band, he is a solo artist hailing from Nottingham, home to his local inspirations Jake Bugg and Dog Is Dead. He's already secured support slots for the likes of acoustic-folk up and comers like Lewis Watson and the mighty Gabrielle Aplin, who's independent record label he was signed to before securing a contract with major label Asylum Records. Today he announced an international support slot for hipster superstar sisters Haim, which is only reflective of his growing popularity.
He opened his set with the wail-along worthy 'Letting Go' (which has received Made In Chelsea airplay), the final track from his debut EP 'Escapade' which reached the top 25 on the UK iTunes chart earlier this summer. He then continued with 'Escapade' themed tracks with 'The River'. His three-piece band assisted him in pumping enormous amounts of electricity to an otherwise quite chilled-out track. For the moment, he ended the EP reign with my favourite song of his - the dynamic and all-round amazing 'Everything She Wants', which had the whole crowd turnt and singing along.
You would never guess that Callum is just 18 years old, as the level of maturity in his songwriting is well beyond his years. No cheesy, gimmicky lyrics to make the girls swoon. Just good, honest, heart-felt stuff that's so effortlessly cool. Perhaps this is what sparked the interest of Radio 1's Zane Lowe as well as backing from BBC Introducing. His onstage energy is more that of a lead singer of a rock band who've been performing for donkey's years rather than a teenage indie songwriter (if that doesn't come off as a complement, it's meant to be). He proved this in August during his unforgettable Reading and Leeds sets. There is no fault in his guitar playing ability, nor the gorgeous selection of guitars (including many *sniffs* Fender Guitars <3<3<3) he has on stage which I may be slightly in love with.
He then played a string of new tracks, unheard of by the audience, which only make me more anticipated for the release of more music. The stand-out song was definitely the 1975-esque (who, as I can tell from Callum's twitter feed, he is utterly obsessed with) 'Young Blood' which neeeeeeeeeds a place on my iPod sometime soon.
He ended the set with an 'encore' of fan-favourites. Firstly 'Bonfires'; alive with pep, progressive drums, and seriously incredible riffs. Finally was the lead single 'Fall At Your Feet' to close where an actual, though very pathetic, mosh pit began to take place. His upbeat electric guitar dominates the stage and the thundery drums pulsate magically through the crowd. It is songs like this which light up Saint Raymond's big future in the music industry. Keep your eyes peeled and see him live as soon as humanly possible, he's going to be one of the next big names.
Saint Raymond and Joel Baker put on a worthwhile night, proving that sometimes it actually is the support who take center stage.
SAINT RAYMOND LINKS:
JOEL BAKER LINKS:
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