There is no better feeling than the air of anticipation before a concert. As we sat sipping our overpriced colas the buzz of the crowd around us felt tangible.
While I had listened to some of Ezra’s music before, I was by no means a ‘hardcore fan’. But after a week of listening to Staying at Tamara’s on repeat, I felt more or less prepared for a sing-along and was looking forward to hearing the songs live.
I worried a little that the more stripped-back nature of some of the album's songs would affect the energy of the concert, but I could not have been proven more wrong. The tracks were brilliantly translated to stage, with a live band used to provide the backing and adding an extra dimension to the music.
Yet to my surprise the music (however good) wasn't my favourite bit. In fact, my favourite parts were the sections in-between.
A surprisingly engaging storyteller, Ezra’s spoken sections created a far more intimate atmosphere than you’d expect among a crowd 12,000 strong. As someone who didn't know much (if anything) about the inspiration behind the songs, these sections helped give an insight into the man behind the music, about whom I’d previously known very little.
The stories were highly entertaining in themselves and the crowd's collective reactions made them even more so. The experience made me want to learn more about George and his career.
About the tour, Ezra commented on Instagram ‘touring is an absolute pleasure’, thanking fans for ‘making [the] shows so special’ and for ‘all the smiles along the way’.
I'm a huge fan of concerts in general - the combination of well-known live music and electric atmosphere can be matched by few other events. Yet I can honestly say that this was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. I certainly now consider myself a George Ezra fan!
