Sam Fender’s “People Watching Tour” rocked The Anthem on September 27.
Fender’s sound is like if Bruce Springsteen and The Killers had a baby. His tracks are carried by a heavy guitar which sits underneath his gravely voice. Almost every one is anthemic. His band is supplemented by a saxophone and a bouncing, blonde backup singer. The songs were often enhanced by keyboardist Joe Atkinson’s shouts and cheers.
The concert’s peak came at “People Watching,” the title track to Fender’s newest album and namesake of the tour. The crowd bounced to the tune which houses melancholic, sentimental lyrics beneath its energetic exterior.
“People Watching” is Fender’s comeback to music after a health-related hiatus. He has returned with a fresh, yet nostalgic sound that only translates better when played live.