Three years have passed since angel-faced pianist Tom Odell was propelled into the spotlight through his Brits’ Critic Choice award full to the brim with indie-esque piano.
Admitted it requires a good search before you find someone under the age of 25, the sold-out O2 Academy sets the scene for West Sussex local lad to take the stage. Appearing before the crowd, a lone cheetah projects onto the backdrop before a raucous eruption unfolds for a longed-for Tom Odell.
‘Wrong Crowd’ sees the singer-songwriter expand his sound palette, a bold move for a 25 year-old with previously just a debut album under his belt. Opening to a roaring ‘Still Getting Used To Being On My Own’, the anticipation hit deep of what a night it would turn out to be. The lofty and dingy surroundings were brought to life by the single spotlight that guided you to the centre of the stage.
Early single ‘I Know’ carries a heavy weight of emotion, a cornerstone song to perform so early in the set. Old and new material is scattered throughout the set, from sullen ‘Wrong Crowd’ to the gospel swirls of ‘Can’t Pretend’ in which the Ivor Novello award winner pushes out a remarkable note lasting for at least a good ten seconds. By the time new single ‘Concrete’ is reached, the audience is amid a dazed sense of exhilaration with Odell claiming to have “broken a key on the piano already”.
A track, to some, may be considered out of place. ‘Sparrow’ is placed within the back-to-back roars of vocals and a constant hammering of piano on Odell’s part. The song proves to be a wise move, showcasing the powerful tone and the remarkable notes that he hits best.
An ever-growing youthful romance is presented in the form of fan-favourite ‘Grow Old With Me’ while foot-stomping ‘Here I Am’ follows to erupt the venue into rhythm clapping and a surge of movement. Debut classics ‘Hold Me’ and ‘Another Love’ are unveiled before an encore opening of definitive masterpiece ‘Till I Lost’.
‘Somehow’ provides an emotive basis for the popular new track ‘Magnetised’, a strong contender for the best single of his new LP. Met with a peak of rapturous energy and applause, the night concludes to an exploration of the depths of love and pain, whether it be in his lyrics or his passion.
You can’t help but leave feeling revived.
‘Wrong Crowd’ is available to download now.
Words by Brianna Riley