The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMusicLive music

Tom Odell at Somerset House Summer Series

Tom Odell at Somerset House Summer Series | Live review
18 July 2013
Katy Thomas
Avatar
Katy Thomas
18 July 2013

The Somerset House Series is a celebration of established artists and rising talent. This year no one encapsulates the title of rising talent like Tom Odell.

Championed by Lily Allen and signed to her label In The Name Of (an imprint of Columbia), and first male recipient of the Brit’s Critics Choice Award earlier this year, he’s been thrust into the limelight following his debut album Long Way Down. In tonight’s grandiose setting of Somerset House he faced an expectant audience.

Sitting centre stage at his piano, Tom commands the concert from the outset. He apologises for his voice, still recovering following a chest infection that left him unable to support The Rolling Stones last weekend. This apology is unfounded as he launches into a rousing cover of The Beatles’ Get Back, much to the delight of the motley crowd who sing along. Next up is I Know, played slower and darker than the album version: this stripping back allows his voice to send waves across the crowd. Bathed in blue light, Odell sings Another Love – the pleading power of his voice is undeniable. Other highlights include the shimmering guitars on Supposed To Be and the use of Tom Odell’s signature move – the sweeping piano keys – on Hold Me.

Throughout, Odell remains modest and humbled, admitting: “We were playing in the pub six months ago” and asking the audience to give his Grandma a round of applause after picking her out from the front of the crowd. He’s rough and raw, compellingly emotional and thoroughly believable. Tonight he gave the audience everything he had and it showed as he led us on the story of his heartbreaks and triumphs in each song. He deserves a stage this big, and his brand of brooding love songs is going to make him a huge star.

★★★★★

Katy Thomas
Photos: Allie Suwanrumpha

For further information and future events visit Tom Odell’s website here.

Watch the video for Another Love here:

Related Itemslive musicreview

More in Live music

St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo

★★★★★
Diletta Lobuono
Read More

The Rollings Stones give Glasto a run for its money at BST Festival in Hyde Park

★★★★★
Sarah Bradbury
Read More

Eagles bring a nostalgia-laden evening to the BST Festival in Hyde Park

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

Ed Sheeran at Wembley Stadium

★★★★★
Bev Lung
Read More

Elton John sparkles on his Farewell tour at BST Festival in Hyde Park

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

Twenty One Pilots at Brixton Academy

★★★★★
Regan Harle
Read More

Imagine Dragons at MK Stadium

★★★★★
Katherine Parry
Read More

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at Kenwood House

★★★★★
Francis Nash
Read More

Nile Rodgers at Kenwood House Heritage Festival

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • The Rollings Stones give Glasto a run for its money at BST Festival in Hyde Park
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “He used to spit at the audience, roll on the ground, he did, in fact, hump that plastic dog – he was the original punk rocker”: Baz Luhrman, Tom Hanks, Austin Butler, Olivia DeJonge and Alton Mason on Elvis
    Cinema & Tv
  • The Princess
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Eric Ravilious: Drawn to War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Terminal List
    ★★★★★
    amazon
  • Baymax!
    ★★★★★
    disney
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Beauty and the Beast: The Musical at London Palladium
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • St Vincent at the Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Netflix Walking Tour: From Bridgerton to The Crown, a free walking tour through the filming locations
    Cinema & Tv
  • Africa Fashion at the V&A
    ★★★★★
    Art
  • Minions: The Rise of Gru
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Rebekka Karijord and Linnea Olsson at the Union Chapel | Live review
Eat Lights Become Lights at Rough Trade East | Live review