James Vickery

27th February 2022

Before you start reading this, I need you to go on Spotify, Apple Music, whatever digital streaming platform you use, and put on Songs That Made Me Feel by James Vickery. I need to set the tone for this support act review.

When Sinead Harnett announced James would be joining her on her Ready Is Always Too Late tour, of which you can read my review here, I was even more excited to attend. The COLORS performance of Until Morning, having garnered 27 million views, was a performance I’d seen way back when I discovered COLORS and one thing I knew about the man was that he could really sing. I think it makes all the more difference when you actually know a support act is gonna be good. James was more than good, he was phenomenal.

He begins with Finally. The switch in register between the verses and chorus is so impressive, you just don’t hear men with angelic voices that actually deliver something special these days, so James’ range is so refreshing. He describes his music as “sweet, sensual R&B”.

The mood becomes sultrier and sexier as the next song plays, from the way James gestures to the beat of the smooth electric guitar, you can tell how in love he is with the music he makes. What a top notch love song The Reason is, the lyrics and the vocals will give you goosebumps, I can’t wait for this to come out. James isn’t afraid to move to the beat, his moves and stage presence really compliment his music and enhance the experience of seeing him live.

Next he performs Hourglass after he tells us that “on the James Vickery camp we embrace all body types”, the way he says it gets a giggle out of the audience. He has this irresistible South London charm that makes him down to earth and incredibly likeable. This song is a little more up beat, with a lyric I find incredibly clever, I need more than a minute to fill your hourglass.

He performs Somewhere, Out There which feels like the the tempo of the last two songs have been meshed together as he pours out his heart, wondering “if she’s out there missing me.” He launches into a cover of Best Part by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R., uniting the audience as we all know this song. The instrumental feels very chill and lo-fi while he delivers a heavenly rendition of this modern R&B classic.

You Comfort Me featuring EARTHGANG is up next, I don’t think I’ve moved my feet like this at a concert for a really long time. His music makes your heart so happy you feel compelled to do a little 2-step. He dances as Johnny Venus from EARTHGANG raps, he’s really pulling out all his best moves as we cheer him on. This is the song that makes me realise how good his vocal range as he belts the last chorus.

Until Morning, the showstopper of his set, is enough to send shivers down your spine. The run he hits before the verse leaves me in awe. This is an impeccable sex song, based on vocals and beats alone, rest assured, it will get you in the mood. Seeing a song you’ve only ever seen a COLORS performance of live is such a surreal, invigorating experience.

He ends his performance with Pressure. His guitarist, Digby delivers very Tom Misch-like guitar as James sings to us, no matter what he’s singing about I can hear joy in his voice. Good vibes, good energy, exactly the way you want a set to end.

The passion James demonstrated through vocals, lyrics and stage presence makes me want to see him again at his own headline show. Whenever that happens, I’m there. This man gives me shivers and goosebumps in the best of ways. He makes a lot of music for the bedroom that he’s actually able to fully embody on stage. I’ll be really honest, I do not see a lot of men moving like that on stage, and what I love about James is his fearlessness and ability to let go. It makes him incredibly likeable, and reassures me that the next time I see him in concert, I’m really in for a show.