The first of Raleigh Ritchie’s limited ‘2 Nights Lonely’ shows was as authentic and captivating as his music, surpassing all expectations. The gig, celebrating the singer’s debut album, You’re A Man Now, Boy, opened with an adorable voice note from his daughter, welcoming the excited crowd to “my daddy’s show”.
The setlist officially started with the infectiously energetic album opener, ‘Werld is Mine’, the string section swelling as Raleigh Ritchie’s name flashed onto the screen. The singer burst on stage, jumping and bouncing to the beat, perfectly setting the tone for the next two incredible hours.
The fan-favourites ‘Stronger Than Ever’ and ‘Bloodsport ‘15’ somehow sounded even better live, with the brass section enhancing the already superb production, and the crowd singing along to every word. Two of his most well-known songs, the endlessly energetic live performances made it unmistakably clear why they have remained so beloved.
‘I Can Change’ is one of the strongest tracks on the album, with its witty yet dark lyricism, clever wordplay and relentless tempo. It continued the energy of the first three songs flawlessly and left a lasting impression in a concert full of dazzling performances.
‘Keep It Simple’ was exhausting in the best way possible, an impossible song to listen to without feeling the need to jump around. Ritchie took full advantage of the party-esque atmosphere, telling the audience to “go crazy” and lose their inhibitions in one of the many unrestrained moments of the night.
The artist called ‘The Greatest’ “one of my favourites to perform live” in a 2016 interview, and his infectious energy, accompanied by the blaring trumpets, made the track another standout performance. Running through the crowd near the end of the song, he seemed just as excited to be performing as the crowd were.
‘Never Better’ held a more reflective atmosphere, with its personal, moving lyrics. The singer’s heartfelt yet uplifting rendition was incredibly memorable, illustrating the power of his emotionally vulnerable songs on the enraptured audience.
‘Cowards’ was another joyous performance, as the audience sang their hearts out and the singer danced across the stage. The bridge is particularly powerful with its tempo change and optimistic lyrics, and the hopeful tone of the song still shone through with the singer’s heartfelt vocals. The high energy continued with ‘A Moor’, a bouncy, optimistic song accompanied by colourful visuals. Ritchie and the guitarists leapt around the stage, quickly encouraging the audience to follow suit.
When introducing ‘Young & Stupid’, Ritchie said it was likely “the first and last time it would ever be performed live”, but he still made the most of this performance. The track, although self-deprecatingly described by the artist as “a bit arrogant”, was such a crowd-pleaser.
The title track, ‘You’re A Man Now, Boy’ was the most emotional performance of the night. Ritchie assured the audience “If anybody is in that turbulent time, you do get through it” in a heartfelt speech and was visibly moved whilst he sang the vulnerable lyrics. Asking the audience to switch their flashlights on at the track’s climax, the song was beautiful from start to finish, and a show highlight.
His final song before the encore, ‘The Last Romance’ was contemplative and vocally stunning, clearly resonating deeply with the audience. A beautiful song about love, it was a fitting conclusion to the main set.
After a brief pause, needed after the emotionally moving previous song, the artist returned with his seemingly boundless energy, performing a single from his 2016 EP, Mind the Gap. He labelled ‘Sicko’ one of his favourite songs he has ever written, and his love for it shone through in his joyful performance. ‘Sicko’ is a beloved track for many fans and it was such a welcome surprise to hear it performed live.
‘Stay Inside’ was the standout live rendition from the singer’s latest release, Dead Ends and Diversions, and it did not disappoint here. The brass section outdid themselves once more, and the powerful rendition of the chorus, “When the underdogs rise again, I’ll have my time / When my body starts turning in, I’ll have my mind”, was one of his most impressive vocal performances.
The penultimate song, ‘Time in a Tree’, his most popular track on Spotify, was a magnificent performance. The only track he played from his sophomore album, Andy, the song perfectly captures that feeling of longing for peace and freedom in times of struggle. The stunning on-screen visuals created an enchanting, beautiful atmosphere, and the singer’s heartfelt delivery only further underscored why the song resonates with so many fans.
Ritchie ended the concert with another rendition of ‘The Greatest’, a perfect closer to an extraordinary night. The crowd was somehow even louder the second time as he ran through the audience once again, and kept singing long after the show was over.
The Jurassic Park score played over the speakers as the crowd dispersed, in reference to the lyric “I loved Jurassic Park, well, I still do” from the album’s title track. Although the show was saying farewell to many of these songs, it still felt raw and exciting.
There was no shortage of love for Ritchie’s debut album, and the night felt like a celebration both of the album and the artist’s exceptional career as a whole. His openness and genuine nature shone through the entire show, creating an emotional, authentic, and unforgettable evening.
Words by Emily Nutbean
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