James Arthur - The Story so far...

May 25th 2015

Oxford, o2 Academy, UK

****

The Full story of the man with the X-Factor, all in one night!

James Arthur **** Tonight is the story of James Arthur's life as a musician from start to finish. The audience at the Oxford o2 Academy were taken on a journey through James' musical influences to songs he did for X-Factor or social media. He also added in a few fan favourites done in different ways, not heard before this tour. So if your a fan of James Arthur, this tour was a real must for you.

For me James Arthur is far more than a reality Pop star, he is a Soulful Singer / Songwriter that can put pure emotion into his songs about what he is feeling at the time of writing it. He opens the sew with his second single off his debut self titled album 'You're nobody 'til somebody loves You', which seems a little bit ropy and out of time at the beginning of. I think this is because his mind is somewhere else. The football team he supports, his hometown team Middlesbrough lost to Norwich in the playoffs final. This cost them a place in the top flight league, so you can see why he is a little detracted. He even came strait to Oxford from watching the game up in Middlesbrough so I guess he was a little tired.

There is a funny bit late on in the set when he says "Thank You!!! Norwich, Oh! S**t I am in Oxford... I think I must have Norwich on the brain". The second song 'Bad Company' is his tribute to one of his biggest childhood influences, the Classic Rock / Blues band Bad Company. This is a rare chance to hear a song you have not heard him done before, and it actually sounds really good, he pulls it off really well. His hipster looking band of burley blokes also, join him Rockin' out to the guitar solo's and licks. Showing that he is really having some fun on this tour, and he is not afraid to show it.

'Faded' is a real unique gem to hear, James has been playing this song for years since he was doing his James Arthur band gigs. He puts pure emotion into the track 'I'm a Liar', before he brings you to where it all started for him on a big scale with his Tulisa cover at his X-Factor auditions. He tells the audience he only went to these auditions, because if he did not his mum would not lend him the money for his electricity and he was so tired of having none. 'Young' the track he did by Tulisa, who was a judge on the show... got him pushed forward into the next round and you know the rest. He was crowned X-Factor winner and his World was totally taken to another dimension.

During the time on the show he did versions of Bonnie Raitt's 'I can't make you love Me' and Adele's 'Hometown Glory' which he performs on this tour as well to the delight of the audience. You can see why he got people to vote for him, and why he is still around now. His winning song was 'Impossible' which has gone No.1 all around the World now, and also has been sung by countless singers before it was given to James... but Mr. Arthur is the one that has now made it his. One of James Arthur's best live songs actually didn't make it onto his debut album, until the deluxe edition. 'Emergency' is Funky and has a killer groove to it, so it's always one I look forward to seeing done live and the Oxford rendition really doesn't disappoint.

'Suicide, Supposed' and 'Certain Things' all songs off his debut album make a nice interlude in the set and show a total different side to James and his voice. I think James Arthur knows how to mix it up and always has the ability to slow things down, without losing an audience which is a rare gift. And he knows that these songs in tonights set are just a passage to two tracks that make the crowd go wild. His rare social media made famous cover of the Miley Cyrus song 'Wrecking Ball' and his hit single 'Recovery' the later a track I just can't stop playing on repeat even months later.

'Is this Love?' is one of my least favourite James Arthur songs so I do wonder why he put this one in when he has so many great songs he can bring out. But the crowd seem to love it, so maybe I have just answered my question. Newish track 'Where my angels dare not Tread' is one of James' most personal tracks, where he almost goes Eminem on his troubles and things that have gone wrong for him in the last years. I totally love this song and I think it shows what good things are going to come for him in the future. He continues on the set with a very new song 'Promise', which I have to say shows promise (Ignore the Pun). It's really nice and well put together and you won't be disappointed when you hear it.

He ends the set with a fabulous rendition of his single 'Get Down', and everyone is left wanting more. Tonight had a rocky start... but it sure did deliver in the end, and that is all that matters. I really love James Arthur's music and I don't think we have even heard the best yet, and that is saying something. So I would say watch this space because their is good things to come and I just can't wait.