English singer-songwriter Sam Fender made his U.S. debut last week in Austin for SXSW and this week came to us here in New York for his live debut here, with a performance last night at Rough Trade NYC. It was clear that Fender was one to watch from his early singles, songs that immediately strike a chord and leave an impression. Getting to the venue before opener Chloe Lilac, there was already a sizeable crowd set-up in front of the stage, a majority of who were young female fans, usually a telltale sign of an artist whose career is about to take off.
Fender and his band took the stage and seemed a bit nervous at first (and admitted how surreal it was to be in the place they were so used to seeing on the tele) but slowly warmed up and got better every step of the way. Some have noticed a Springsteen like quality to his sound, something that became clear with a few guest saxophonist who joined him during his set, giving his rousing sound a little bit more punch.
Fender commanded the crowd and wasn’t here for the usual brief 10-song 45-minute set that we are so used to from “breakout” acts. He played for well over an hour, nearly breaching 20 songs, with each song finding a different sort of dimension than the last. He’s a young songwriter but he clearly knows how to write a tune that leaves a punch and most importantly, he and his band have the live chops to carry it out live.
His debut album should be out sometime later this year, released via Interscope Records. I’m sure seeing him in a room like Rough Trade NYC will soon be a thing of the past.
Find a full gallery of photos from his performance posted in the gallery below, along with the setlist and shots of opener Chloe Lilac.
Chloe Lilac:
Sam Fender:
Sam Fender setlist:
1. Millennial
2. When Will We Talk
3. All Is on My Side
4. Borders
5. Dead Boys
6. Start Again
7. Greasy Spoon
8. Spice
9. Hypersonic Missiles
10. The Change
11. Play God
12. Leave Fast
13. Poundshop Kardashian
14. White Privilege
15. That Sound
16. Lose My Mind
17. Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen cover)
18. Only One
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