Tom Odell
Saturday 6th April 2013 – Limelight, Belfast
It was with great excitement I made my way to Belfast to see Tom Odell’s Northern Ireland debut in the limelight. The singer/songwriter is the name on everyone’s lips at the moment, especially after collecting the Critic’s Choice award at the Brit Awards. His debut album ‘Long Way Down’ is released this month and is eagerly awaited.
The venue had an odd feeling when I entered, more like Saturday night in your local than a gig. Odell enters the stage unassumingly and without a word launches straight into ‘Grow Old with Me’ followed by the better known ‘Can’t Pretend’. Odell is supported by only an acoustic guitar and double bass, and it’s a truly amazing thing watching him wring every note out of his piano. The sound was amazing but I felt a great need to tell everyone to shut up and listen to this talented young man.
He continued his set with songs from his new album which included ‘Supposed to be’, ‘To Be Lost’ and then on to his most recognisable song to date ‘Another Love’ the performance of this song gave me Goosebumps. Leaving the piano, Odell picked up guitar and full of apologies (not that any were needed) and began to play ‘Stay Tonight’ finishing his set with ‘Hold Me’ before saying goodnight. Waiting patiently for the encore I wasn’t to be disappointed when Odell returned and blasted into the Elton John classic ‘Bennie and the Jets’ which blew me away and got the crowd moving. Finishing his set with ‘The Way I Hold You’, I was sad to see Odell leave the stage as it seemed a short set, but of course it has to be remembered that Odell hasn’t a vast catalogue of songs yet. I have no doubt that when Odell returns he will be in a larger venue so I’m very grateful I was fortunate to have the Tom Odell experience in a more intimate venue and if you get the chance to see this guy, take it you would be mad to miss him!
