Sam Smith is the man of the moment - and fresh from clearing up at last week’s MOBOs the 22-year-old Londoner proved why.
Newcastle’s 02 Academy was the perfect venue for an intimate gig.
Saturday night’s sold out show felt like a rare close-range glance at Sam to who such performances may not always be as possible in the future. A watershed of sorts.
Relaxed and likeable, Sam gave an endearing look into his life and personality.
Despite MOBO cool factor he chatted about pouring his emotions into his album after ‘drunk dialling’ the object of his affection, his female diva influences such as Whitney Houston and revealing the first single he bought as being by Amy Winehouse.
To kick off the third night of his UK tour he launched into his first E.P. Nirvana and then skillfully crooned through his debut album In The Lonely Hour.
Leave Your Lover and current chart topper I’m Not The Only One were boosted by the soulful on-stage band and a funky trio of backing singers.
Pretty live strings added magic to Sam’s beautiful ballads - including his breathy cover of Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know which is now a YouTube favourite.
But there was also plenty of fun to balance out the love songs - Sam dedicating Earth, Wind and Fire’s September to his mum.
The crowd loved one of Sam’s latest offerings, Restart: an upbeat, catchy number which has a feel of 80s soul to it.
Money on my Mind was also fantastically morphed into Ce Ce Peniston's Finally.
As well as the touching dedication to his mum, he name checked another in his set - writer and producer Jimmy Napes A.K.A James Napier who also seems to have the magic touch.
He is jointly responsible for writing for many of Sam’s tracks such as Lay me Down and other hits such as Clean Bandit’s Rather Be: the most streamed song of 2014. A partnership sure to produce more brilliance in the future.
Sam rounded off a performance of understated cool with chart favourite Stay With Me - and was given an ovation by the crowd who stamped their feet in approval.
The stamp of approval for a truly memorable gig.
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