Flawless vocal masterclass from Tom
THE vocal powerhouse that is Tom Walker brought his I Am Tour to Rock City on Monday night and he arrived on stage to a sold-out crowd.
Providing the perfect support was Limerick-based trio, Kingfishr. Drawing from their Irish roots, they enchanted the crowd with a fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds, skilfully weaving melodies with a combination of banjos, acoustic and electric guitars.
Opening their set with Heart In The Water they immediately showed their musicality. With Mcgoo Mcgrath on banjo, Fitz Fitzgibbon on bass and Eddie Keogh’s lovely vocals, the set included a captivating Vancouver, the impressive Headlands and the passionate Leave. The night was highlighted by a moment when Keogh ventured into the crowd for Shot In The Dark that saw phone torches swaying along to the touching tune.
Kingfishr had delivered a dynamic and captivating performance and are one of those hidden talents that are going to be gracing bigger venues any time soon.
Walker took to the stage sporting his trademark hat and with guitar in hand he opened the evening with Rapture that showcased his outstanding and heartfelt lyrics which captured the crowd from the off. Delivering an effortless and flawless performance, he captivated with the likes of Angels, whilst the punchy song Cry Out reminded the crowd just how phenomenal his vocals are.
The instantly recognisable melody of Not Giving In set the crowd off as they raised their hands and sang every word back at him. Between songs he entertained with anecdotes about friends and family and introduced love songs, Just You And I and The Best Is Yet To Come, dedicated to his wife, and the emotional Lifeline, written about a friend who passed away and which was stunningly performed.
There was an inspiring rendition of Not Giving In, whilst Burn was a real crowd pleaser. Ending his set with a passionate and heartfelt Better Half Of Me before the song which aided his rise to fame, Leave A Light On, took the crowd back to his emotive best.
Walker’s voice remains powerful and emotional, his energy was infectious and the connection with the audience was undeniable as he delivered a phenomenal live performance that had thrilled from start to finish.