When it comes to Sam Fender, the word icon and legend have already been used, thanks to the amazing nights he's already given us at Tynemouth Priory, the arena and city hall but what St James' Park witnessed on Friday night was pure magic. This was a North East superstar doing what he does best with the most captive of audiences.
With so much hype and anticipation surrounding the shows, you could have easily forgiven Sam for being plagued with nerves, but from start to finish he looked like a man enjoying every single second and boy, did he deserve it. Anyone who's been to a Sam Fender gig before knows that the curtain raiser is always Local Hero but even that went up a Geordie notch on Friday as that was teased by a very apt, given what else was happening in town on the same evening, quick burst of the Blaydon Races.
Black and white flags were being waved with vigour way before Sam arrived on stage at SJP, with a blast of Hey Jude ensuring the stadium became a shrine to the Magpies, not only Sam. And Sam and his band must have been totally blown away by the rapturous reception that greeted them when they made their entrance.
The crescendo of cheers, bathed in the sea of black and white were the perfect back drop for Sam to open his St James' account with Will We Talk - a song that never ever fails to get things off to a flying start. Its infectious beat and amazing chorus rightly puts it up there as one of Sam's best songs to date but it came first in a setlist packed full of songs that not only prove Sam's musical pedigree, but feel they've woven themselves into Tyneside folklore already.
There wasn't a face inside the ground without a broad smile on it as Getting Started kicked in, with the sax laden single ensuring that the atmosphere remained at fever pitch level, before the always poignant Dead Boys shone as the sun started to fall.
Friday was a real family affair for Sam, as he welcomed brother Liam to the stage for a duet of a Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire. Not even a brief halt in proceedings to sort out a technical issue could detract from what was one of those nights that will live long in Newcastle's history.
This will be one of those 'were you at Sam Fender at St James?' occasions and all those who were fortunate enough to have a ticket will carry their memories way longer than the inevitable sore throats and sore heads they wake up with on Saturday morning.
Things went OFF at the front to Howdon Aldi Queue and Spice and then in a night, covered in confetti and fireworks, Sam proved he needed no gimmicks or accessories for the attention demanding and stunningly composed The Dying Light.
The gig reached its crescendo with an emphatic singalong to Saturday, before the double header of Seventeen Going Under and Hypersonic Missiles ended things in a style that mist have had Sam looking out at the crowd and thinking 'wow, I've actually done this.'
The immense love right around SJP for Sam and the other vastly talented lads in his band, was goose bump inducing on its own and the gig is one that Newcastle will hold long its memory for years to come.
Amazing musician, phenomenal songwriter and a guy who never ever forgets his roots. Sam Fender, take a bow son, you throroughly deserve to.
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