After a monumental few months where he achieved his second number one album in the UK and took home the BRIT award for best alternative/rock act, Sam Fender has embarked on his Seventeen Going Under arena tour. On the 27th of March, he came to Birmingham’s Utilita arena for one of his biggest shows ever. He is one of music’s most highly praised artists and at the start of what will no doubt be a huge career so witnessing him performing live was an exciting prospect.

Opening act Goat Girl put on an impressive show

Opening act Goat Girl put on an impressive show which the packed crowd clearly enjoyed. Their colourful, synth-heavy songs were quite different to Sam’s which made them an interesting opener, a situation which will be repeated when they open for Liam Gallagher at Knebworth in June. The different band members providing the vocals, together and separately made them especially enjoyable as it gave each of their songs a different sound. They showed themselves off well and were very grateful and personable, stopping to make sure someone in the crowd was okay.

The crowd erupted when Sam and his band came on stage and started playing. He opened with his hit ‘Will We Talk?’ from his first album Hypersonic Missiles before going into ‘Getting Started,’ which had very similar energy. Both songs set the tempo for much of the performance straight away as they were upbeat and fun with crowd wildly jumping and singing along and exciting lights and effects.

After greeting the crowd and realising that this was the biggest show of the tour, he played his breakthrough song ‘Dead Boys’ which the crowd enthusiastically sung along to. The track tackles the topic of male suicide and the difficulties of discussing mental health in his hometown of Newcastle, but the crowd’s energetic reaction made it one of the most lively performances of the night. It also put on full display the strength and quality of Fender’s haunting voice which filled the arena.

The change of pace allowed the fans to appreciate Fender and his band’s accomplished musicianship

The next songs he played, ‘Mantra’ and ‘Better of Me,’ brought down the tempo. This created a different atmosphere to the first three with their use of acoustic guitars as well as keys, a horn and of course the saxophone, a staple of his sound. The change of pace allowed the fans to appreciate Fender and his band’s accomplished musicianship and use of many different instruments and sounds in their tracks.

After praising his previous show in Glasgow, he gave the crowd a chance to better them by playing two of his faster and heavier songs, ‘Spice’ and ‘Howdon Aldi Death Queue.’ They responded by frantically moshing along while Sam and his band let loose on stage while doused in red lights which added to the intensity. He also showed how much he cares for his fans by stopping and having the lights turned for people to be helped. This happened again later on in the concert.

the band’s infectious sound, and Fender’s emotional lyrics and voice mesmerised the crowd

When things calmed down he played ‘Get You Down,’ a single off the new album. Similar to ‘Will We Talk?’ it is an archetypal Sam Fender song with bright guitars, a fast tempo and prominent saxophone parts. Songs like this made it clear why the arena was full of adoring fans as the band’s infectious sound, and Fender’s emotional lyrics and voice mesmerised the crowd. The same can be said of his performance of ‘Spit of You’ which is about his relationship with his Dad. The elegantly plucked guitar parts and the array family photos displayed on the screen made it one of the more powerful moments of the show and experiencing it live gave me even greater appreciation for Sam’s story telling ability.

Another highlight was when he performed ‘Play God,’ which was his debut song, but also one of his best. The pounding drums which drive the track and the repetitive and aggressive guitars make it sound more menacing compared to the bright, timeless sound of the majority of his catalogue. Fender’s vocals on the song were very impressive, especially in the chorus where they fluctuated quickly to very high pitches.

Sam engaged with the crowd throughout the show expressing his gratitude and frequently cracking jokes and being cheeky. A particularly nice moment was when he talked about how he and his guitarist Dean Thompson used to imagine being rock stars when they were growing up and that shows like this were exactly what they dreamt of. The band is made up of a mixture of local friends and people he met in his early years in the music industry and, although Fender is the star, he ensured that they got their fair share of attention. The obvious chemistry and friendship between them all was another element which made the concert even more of a collectively joyful experience.

Emotions also ran high for his performance of ‘The Dying Light,’ the last song before the encore. Fender showed off his multi-instrumental ability, playing his Newcastle United piano (whilst also having a cup of tea) and then finishing the song back on guitar. The track was made even better by the spectacle of the thousands of torches lighting up the arena and a huge cloud of confetti being shot when it came to a crescendo.

Sam came back out after the encore on his own and began to play the chords of ‘Saturday,’ his huge, bluesy song from his first album, while the crowd screamed out the chorus. This was one of the highlights of the show as it was amazing to hear everyone singing along at once and see one man being in control of so many people who obviously adored him. The full version of the song with his band was just as good, especially when he got different parts of the crowd to sing the chorus.

The two best songs of the show were saved for last. ‘Seventeen Going Under’ and ‘Hypersonic Missiles,’ the title tracks from Fender’s two albums showed the full extent of his talent. Their personal lyrics gradually unfold tell the sombre tales of Sam’s upbringing and struggles alongside his family and community in North Shields and the helplessness of being young in a highly political and corporate world where conflict is never far away, yet the atmosphere they created was euphoric and cathartic. Everyone’s face beamed with a smile and as the crowd jumped around belting out the words and the ‘woah woahs’ in both songs it felt like there was nowhere better to be in that moment.

Sam Fender gave a sparkling performance that made it clear what a big star he is and will become

Sam Fender gave a sparkling performance that made it clear what a big star he is and will become. His inward–looking lyrics about the obstacles of being young and living in tough conditions clearly resonated throughout the arena, but so did their warm and nostalgic sound, showing how music can be a way to overcome the hardships of life for both fans and artists. It was nothing short of a fantastic concert, but there was a feeling of something more in the air which brought an extra level of enjoyment and perspective, and Sam’s playful demeanour with the crowd and obvious concern for their well-being cemented the feeling of community and joyful release. The show was captivating and perfect for the large crowd. The excitement and fun which was jointly created by the participation of the fans and the talent on stage made it an amazing spectacle and a truly special night.

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