Charlie Simpson has been excited to play here for a long time. His excitement is infectious, souring out into the dimly lit crowd. Easing the audience in gently with ‘Down Down Down’ from his ‘Young Pilgrim‘ album, the former pop-star turned credible rock musician creates an intimate atmosphere, no mean feat in such a vast venue.
‘Parachute‘ reinvokes the energy of Simpson’s former incarnation as the angst-driven frontman of Fightstar. He’s certainly settled now though, waving to his new wife’s family along with his own, hiding in the background. His new music sounds softer too, the country-inspired ‘Winter Hymns‘ showcasing a more serious side to the artist, while an impromptu cover of ‘Ride Sally Ride‘ suggests that his sense of humour has definitely not been lost along the way.
Claiming to be having the most fun in his life ever, Simpson takes his encore out into the crowd, appearing in the centre of the room with just an acoustic guitar for company. His return to the stage is slowed, with every hand reaching to high-five him as he passes.
For an artist who’s developed his career through so many different styles, Simpson’s real testament to his strength as a musician, as well as a frontman is the way the fans have followed him in each form. His warmth and personality are the reason they’ll be followers from the Busted days here tonight, who he makes as welcome as those just discovering his music. Treating each audience member as a friend, not a fan, is what makes tonight truly special.
