Toby Sebastian at the 100 Club

Certified multihyphenate Toby Sebastian provided the perfect pick-me-up yesterday evening – an antidote to the midweek blues – taking to the stage at London’s The 100 Club to celebrate the release of his brand new album, Eyes Light Up. His first full body of work to be released in 12 years, the intimate underplays in both London and Oxford have been infused with a maturity of sound and honed craftsmanship that manifests in Sebastian’s immaculate vocal and instrumental skill.

Kicking off proceedings with Something Romantic following an understated stage entrance, the camaraderie of the band immediately shone through, commandeered gracefully and humbly by their frontman. The unprecedented London sunshine could be felt even underground, with a breezy, carefree ambience established that perfectly complemented fan favourite Let’s Pretend, then moved into a more laid-back acoustic set. Sebastian kept chatter to a minimum, letting the crowd be fully absorbed by the songs and the audience in turn leant the singer their respect, attentively and earnestly listening as the show progressed.

The predominantly relaxed setlist, including a brief solo set with an acutely heartfelt rendition of Light Years, was peppered with a number of upbeat highlights, which had fans of all kinds swaying together and bopping along. The enthusiasm in the room peaked during the triumphant and buoyant Rock Rolling, attendees ready for a dance to close out the night. Finishing the main set with the unequivocal hit Heaven Is the Backseat of a Rental Car, an undoubted show standout, Sebastian left the stage to high-energy cries of “One more song!” which he graciously indulged moments later.

Playing out two of his most well-known tracks to end the evening, Midnight and Train To Mexico, what began as an overall mellow offering swiftly evolved into Americana revelry, encompassing all of the best elements of indie, country, and every genre in between. Toby Sebastian and team truly let the music do the talking, making for a night of unadulterated acoustic bliss.

Tallulah Allen
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events, visit Toby Sebastian’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Let’s Pretend here: