Lewis Capaldi
Utilita Arena 01/26/23
Birmingham UK
Claire H. Photographer
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Live Review
Ahead of the release of his sophomore album Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent, Lewis Capaldi embarked on a sold out tour of the UK, performing at some of the nations finest venues.
Joining the Scottish singer-songwriter, was fellow singer-songwriter and powerhouse vocalist in RAYE. Taking to the stage with just a piano, she launched into You Don’t Know Me - just one of her many collaborative hits which got the whole arena singing along. For the first portion of her 45 minute set, RAYE performed acoustic renditions of some of the anthems that projected her to the superstar status that we know her for today. Shortly after, her backing band joined her onstage to perform tracks from her upcoming debut album My 21st Century Blues. RAYE’s setlist; accompanied by the sharing of personal anecdotes, cleverly told the story of her journey in the music industry thus far. From song-writing for other musicians and a messy journey with Polydor Records, RAYE has come out on top and has successfully paved her own path as an independent artist. She dazzled the packed crowd of Birmingham with her soulful vocals and taste of what’s to come from her. A stand out moment was of emotionally raw track, titled Ice Cream Man. which upon introduction we discover is based on a previous unfortunate experience of sexual assault within the music industry. The song was met by a roar of cheers and applause, visibly overwhelming the artist. The track alone is a clear indicator that the future ahead is very bright for RAYE.
Setlist:
You Don’t Know Me
Secrets
BED
Oscar Winning Tears.
The Thrill Is Gone.
Ice Cream Man.
Environmental Anxiety.
Worth It.
Buss It Down.
Escapism.
A black screen comes down from the ceiling, completely covering the stage to indicate that headliner Lewis Capaldi will shortly be taking to the stage. As the arena lights dim, the screen lights up and a full-scale production is underway. The screen lifts to reveal Capaldi’s backing band raised on platforms, as the humorous Scotsman strolls onto the stage moments after. Launching into comeback hit, Forget Methe track is accompanied by huge drum beats and blasts of confetti that confirms Capaldi is not here to mess about.
With that being said, the singer who is notoriously known for his witty-banter (often at his own expense) wasted no time in cracking some jokes with his adoring fans. In fact, it takes as much as two songs before the singer-songwriter turns comedian by asking the audience: “who plans to have sex later?”. In typical self-depreciating manner, the singer confessed that it would be no one as “only virgins” would attend a Lewis Capaldi show on a Thursday evening. The jokes didn’t end there either, as Lewis acknowledges a fan in the front row who is pregnant with supposedly yet-to-be born baby ‘Lewis’ - “just like his dad” Capaldi exclaims before quickly retracting his statement whilst holding back laughter. The concert turned stand-up set remained for the entirety of the evening which whilst expected, at times was a bit much. The continuous laughter received from fans at times, spoiled poignant moments of the set. As Lewis began the opening few notes of ballad Lost On You taken from his first studio release Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent, an enthusiastic fan shouted out “I love you Lewis”, to which the singer - and rightly so replied “not the time”, again met with an outpour of laughter in the arena. Whilst this occurred, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Someone You Lovedsinger.
All in all, an evening with Lewis Capaldi proved to be an hour and a half sing-along to heartbreak anthems with some lighthearted comedy thrown in for good measure. It’s no surprise to see why the cheeky chap is loved amongst generations, with the love exceeding as time goes on.
Setlist:
Forget Me
Forever
Lost On You
Heavenly Kind of State of Mind
Fade
Before You Go
Bruises
Wish You the Best
Grace
Pointless
Hold Me While You Wait
Love Story (Taylor Swift cover)
Someone You Loved
