Tom A Smith at Camden Assembly

At only 19 years old, Sunderland’s very own Tom Smith has already accomplished what many artists dream of: whether it be playing in front of 6,000 people at Glastonbury festival this past year, meeting Elton John or selling out venues during his first tour across the UK, Smith has been booked and busy. On 29^th November, he and his band sold out the Camden Assembly, checking off another exciting box.

Smith kicked off the night with the dance-worthy track Wolves from his first EP. The Camden Assembly is an intimate venue; being so close to a tightly-knit crowd may seem like a daunting feat, but Smith maintained the composure of an artist who has been playing in front of thousands of watching eyes for decades. Bassist Katie Anderson matched Smith’s energy, headbanging her way through the night alongside drummer Frazer Graham whose smile never dropped. Although it was only the first song of the night, the band were setting themselves up for an electric set and the crowd was certainly feeling it too.

The next tune, Toronto, continues this excellence: the bass and drums could be felt from miles away and Smith sang with an indescribable, yet impressive force. Could I Live With Being Fake shows off Smith’s strong vocals once again, and the electric guitar, as always, complements him gorgeously. During Man Overboard, Smith got the crowd to join in and sing with him. Attendees were timid at first, but with the help of some ecstatic fans at the front of the stage, the chorus was embellished by nearly every voice in the crowd. Next is Losing My Grip, then Convince Yourself, which is a slower, powerful track that had the ground shaking. Little Bits picks up the pace a bit, and the band is noticeably having the time of their lives; it is hard not to smile watching the four friends dance just as much as the audience. Smith introduces Weirdo, a fan favourite, and the floor and walls shake from the crowd jumping and chanting louder than they had before. It is halfway through the set and the venue is buzzing, which made it difficult for the next track, The Worst Is Still To Come, to establish its ambience. The crowd took the hint, and gentle sways took the place of screams and stomps. This set up Smith’s next two unsupported tracks, Boltcutters and If I Was, nicely, however. The energy is ramped up once again with Smith’s most recent release, Fading Away, and some of his most popular, Never Good Enough featuring guitar skills from opener Tom Adbisgold, Like You Do and Dragonfly, which attendees belted with every bone in their bodies. The gig was finished, but the crowd remained, most definitely absorbing the excellence that just took place.

Overall, Tom A Smith and his band are a young force to be reckoned with. With the confidence of someone twice his age, Elton John is entirely correct when he says that Smith “is going to be a big star”. Smith will be back this Friday in Margate, and there’s no doubt he will keep getting better and better.

Taryn Crowley
Photos: Nick Bennett

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

Watch the video for the single Fading Away here: