Star goes Ezra mile for his opening gig
SINGER’S ‘INTIMATE’ NIGHT FOR NORTH FANS
IF George Ezra’s month-long tour of the UK can replicate the zeal and charm of his opening night in Newcastle, then his fans are in for a treat.
Ezra’s energy and charisma, combined with the hits that made him the most recognisable voice of 2018, took his fans back to the heatwaves, BBQS and celebrations of last summer – for a couple of hours at least.
But it was an all-round performance that proves the singer is more than just a summer hit specialist.
A smaller tour last year saw Ezra play Newcastle’s O2 Academy in November, on the back of chart success that saw Staying at Tamara’s claim the accolade of the best-selling album released in 2018.
But it was always likely that Thursday night’s larger – and, let’s face it, more fitting – Utilita Arena venue would prove the perfect place to throw the party his album deserved.
And a party it was. Opening up with a near-perfect rendition of Don’t Matter Now – a personal favourite from his last album – set the tone for a night that showcased all the happiness and charm you’d expect from a George Ezra gig.
Then, of course, there were the classics. The likes of Budapest, Paradise and Blame It On Me were always going to crank up the decibels. Shotgun was used as a lively farewell. Ezra knew his audience and played with them superbly.
But it wasn’t all smiles and sunshine. The Hertfordshire singer was happy to change the mood with his powerful and deep delivery of Saviour, bringing a darker emotion into the set list for the first time.
It flowed nicely into the more romantic tracks such as Hold My Girl, a song that prompted paper lanterns to fall from the arena ceiling. The production value certainly didn’t let anyone down.
And if his production team were flexing their muscles, then his band seemed ready to one-up them. All My Love allowed the brass trio to showcase their talents, offering up the kind of sound that gave Staying at Tamara’s its distinctive bounce. It was showing off, but in the best possible way. As good as that was, it was Ezra’s relationship with the crowd that set the night apart. From writing Pretty Shining People in a park in Barcelona to singing Paradise into his phone from his tour bus, the 25-year-old talked his fans through nearly every song with a well-stocked supply of amusing anecdotes.
If it was possible to make a packed arena gig feel intimate, he achieved it. But above all else, it was relationship building.
No-one wants to see an artist rattle off 20 songs without saying a word, but it still felt as though Ezra went above and beyond to give the crowd exactly what they came for.
If he was likeable when he entered the stage, he was lovable by the time he left it.