Review: James Bay at the Fremantle Arts Centre, 30 January 2015.

Summer in Perth, Australia is blistering hot, sweltering heat, sweat endorsed and thong appraised. It is what the young James Bay from the UK had prepared for. However, alas on this day, Perth had welcomed a storm of epic proportions.

He was set to host an outdoor debut of his first Australian tour. The Fremantle Arts Centre Facebook page had been trolled with backlash of the no umbrella, no refunds, we play rain, hail or shine policy. It was bound to be a wet evening.

The saturation did not come in the form of rain on this destined twilight. Instead it came with an immediate saturation of energy as the signature hat-wearing artist swaged his way on stage, placed his guitar on the girth of his chest and strummed that perfect first chord for ‘Collide’. 

More than 3000 fans attended this sold out gig and they all came in the name of love. Bay writes songs of love. Future love, destined love, broken love, hopeless love.

‘Craving’, ‘When We Were On Fire’ and ‘If You Ever Want To Be In Love’ rolled out as Bay swapped from acoustic to electric guitar swooning the crowd with his chiselled jaw line and chilled charisma.

Lulling the pace with Need The Sun To Break and a song not on his album Running did not subdue the passion. Bay releases a toned voice, which oozes fervour seeping through his vein popping neck to his fingers working his guitar like a long lost lover.

The well known ‘Let It Go’ lifted a roar as the guitar refrain opened. The Arts Centre is a large expanse hill, with the stage at the bottom; a small pool of people stood at the front and the rest sat on the moist grass soaking up the atmosphere of a profound singer-songwriter. It was an insane sing a-long moment as all piped the love lost lyrics ‘let it go, just let it be.’

Bay embarked on a guitar solo, it was near silence as all were awed by the skill of this 25 year old. One begun a slow applause to appreciate the art he was releasing, it simply encouraged the thousands to applaud. It was a moment.

‘Scars’, ‘Move Together’, ‘Best Fake Smile’ and ‘Get Out While You Can’ brought the show to a close bringing the stars out and getting Bay into a mood he digged.

A customary encore increased the love even more with ‘Incomplete’, the crowd had their phone lights in the air, swaying from side to side.

Although Bay’s originals are inspiring, it was cover song of Alicia Key’s release, ‘If I Ain’t Got You’, which brought the house down. Not only did and his five-piece band deliver a rendition worthy of appraise but it was a heart wrenching reminder that when you strip it all away, love is the one thing that matters, the one thing which should conquer.

Finishing on his highest chart ranking song ‘Hold Back The River’, there was not one note foul on this fine night. It was a night of love. Love for music, love for people, a love of love.

Photos: Jackie Jethon

Upcoing Shows

Wednesday, February 3 | Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, February 6 | Hordern Pavillion, Sydney NSW
Sunday, February 7 | Convention Centre, Brisbane QLD

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