Sam Fender: Live at Finsbury Park 2022
Side A opens with 'Will We Talk' an indie anthem about love and lust, something we don't usually expect from Sam Fender. However it is the perfect album opener. It's a catchy song, that talks about nights out something the vast majority of us can relate too. A brilliant strength of Sam is that his songs are relatable for those in the audience or in this case those listening to the record. 'Getting Started' is the next track, a brilliant song, with a message to keep moving forward. Live this song has an extra layer, all of Sam's band really showcase their talents, brilliant drums and brass litter the track. Creating this wall of sound that Sam showcases his brilliant lyrics around. 'Dead Boys' is a true highlight of the album. A song about 'North Shields and our friends who aren't with us anymore' Live this song is even more powerful, a truly raw and emotive piece of music, this album really manages to capture that emotion, from both the fans and band. 'Mantra' and 'Better of Me' close out Side A, by slowing things down. 'Mantra' is an atmospheric affair in the vein of Americana, 'Better of Me' is an acoustic song with a big chorus, that the crowd cannot help but sing along too.
Side B opens with 'The Borders' one of my favourite songs by Sam, it's a true highlight of his first album 'Hypersonic Missiles. This version manages to make the song even better, lyrically it's a masterpiece that tells a story, of two guys in a small town. Again the band showcase their talents, Johnny 'Bluehat' Davis, Saxophone is a vital competent in this song, it's easily one of my favourite songs on this album too. 'Spice' and 'Howdon Aldi Death Queue' allows the crowd to go mental, and speeds up the pacing of the album. Both of these songs are almost punk like in there nature with fast drums and snarling guitars. The crowd are the most important part of these songs though. At certain points they drown out Sam and the band and I mean that in the best possible way. 'Get You Down' ends Side B, a true festival anthem, this song was made for the live environment, it was meant to be sung by thousands of people in a field. A classic, and it sounds amazing on this record. It is very similar sonically to 'The Borders' and if that song was the perfect way to open Side B, then 'Get You Down' is the perfect way to close it.
'Spit of You' is the opening track on Side C, a heartfelt and beautiful song about Sam's dad. Lyrically I think this is Sam's best song, and it works live, he manages to capture the audience with heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking lyrics. The vast majority of the audience are able to relate to what he is singing about. It is often difficult to talk about how we are feeling especially with a parent. 'Alright' is the next song on Side C, and at the time of the gig, this song had only just been released, Sam and the band were road testing some new material, and it is fascinating hearing the crowd react, to this new piece of music. It has the possibility to be a live classic, the chorus is catchy and the lyrics some of Sam's best tackling families, insecurity and small town problems. 'Play God' is the penultimate track on Side C, hearing that guitar riff, and the crowd clapping along sets us up for what we know will be a brilliant song. Live this song manages to sound even darker, and more menacing. Which is a good thing given the songs lyrical content. It continues to be a Sam classic. My favourite moment of the record is next, 'The Dying Light' ends Side C. A follow up to 'Dead Boys', dedicated to everyone from a small town. It is a heartfelt piece of music, that starts off as a piano ballad but becomes so much more than that. The song builds and builds until Sam sings these lines
'But I'm damned if I give up tonight
I must repel the dying light
For Mom and Dad and all my pals
For all the ones who didn't make
The night'
Hearing those lines, took me to the time I heard this song live earlier this year, it was a highlight of Sam's set, and one of the best things I have ever seen live. It is a brilliant song and the live version managed to transport me back. The power of music eh!
Side D acts as the encore. The first song in that encore is 'Saturday' which is started by the crowd singing the chorus, as Sam plays his guitar. The crowd play there part perfectly, before the rest of the band join in. 'Saturday' is a live staple in Sam's set, and it was only natural that it would be in his encore. It sets up the final two songs perfectly, a pulsating tune, that was made to be chanted by thousands of adoring fans. 'Seventeen Going Under' is the penultimate track. I made the point this year that 'Seventeen Going Under' is the best song of the last 10 years. This version seems to reinforce my point. It's a celebration of both the song, and the journey Sam has been on. I don't know another artist who could make 45,000 people dance, jump and sing to a song like that. A song that the audience can relate to. Being 17 is a weird age, you're not a child but you are not an adult either. The world can be a scary place, but it's also at your feet. A tale of despair but also a song of hope. It is the best song on the album, and the best song of the last decade! 'Hypersonic Missiles (The song that got us into this mess) ends the record again another anthem. It's the perfect song to end the album and a milestone gig. It was the song that launched (excuse the pun) Sam Fender. So it's quite fitting it's the song that ends this album. A song about the end of the world, politics, war, and yet he makes a sea of people in a park in London sing it like their lives depend on it. What can't this man do
Thank you for reading x
For Sam, Dru, Dean, Joe, and Johnny x